NOG 2018: Varsity Don Blames Niger Delta Pipeline Vandals For Resulting Health Predicaments

President of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE), Professor Wumi Iledare, has said health predicaments resulting from the vandalization of oil installations in the Niger Delta should be blamed on the vandals themselves.

Professor Wumi spoke to our correspondent on the sidelines of the just-concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition which held at the International Conference Center (ICC) in Abuja.

Speaking after moderating the 8th session of the 2018 NOG Conference tagged “Innovative Strategies – Combating Crude Oil Theft and Pipeline Vandalism” the NAEE President said while those affected by oil spills and environmental degradation should be compensated by government and International Oil Companies (IOCs), health challenges resulting from vandalism should be blamed on vandals.

Wumi said, “It is the normal thing all over the world that if there is any spill the people who are affected are compensated.”

He however noted that “If it is as a result of vandalisation, in fact, it is the person who destroyed the pipe that should be liable for destroying an economic asset. Actually, in Nigeria it is an economic crime and that is the essence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”

“Again, the rule of law is so critical for us to be able to eradicate some of these ills in the society and that is why enforcement agencies should rise up to the plate and resolve some of this crisis by applying the rule of law to be able to solve the criminal destruction of national assets.”

Wumi doubles as the Director, Emerald Energy Institute, at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and is equally a Chirota and Emmanuel Egbogah Distinguished Professor.

The 2018 edition of the NOG Conference was sponsored amongst others by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Oando Plc and Aiteo.