FG Moves To Sell Pipelines, Begins Maintenace, Surveilance

The federal government has began aggressive fixing and surveillance of pipelines as part of plans to meet up with the January deadline for the privatization of pipelines across Nigeria.

The Nation reports that a close source to the company hired by the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to provide 24 hours surveillance for the pipelines revealed that the move is aimed at improving the state of the refineries so as to attract investors.

He said: "Based on my interaction with the management of the PPMC, I can tell you authoritatively that the government is serious with the issue of selling the pipelines to private entities, with proven track records of managing facilities that are previously owned by the state. Part of the seriousness is the issue of putting the pipelines in good condition to stimulate the confidence of investors.

"People may think that increased security network noticed around pipelines in the country was a fluke. No, it is not. It was introduced as part of efforts to provide a solid footing for the privatization of the pipelines across the country."

It would be recalled that the managing director, PPMC, Mrs Esther Ogbue on a tour of some selected pipelines in Ogun state said the government is putting in place modalities to repositioning the pipelines for growth.

Ogbue noted that government is not leaving any stone unturned, in order to ensure that the pipelines are well managed and further benefit the operators, especially marketers, who sell directly to consumers.

Meanwhile, the minister of state for petroleum resources, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, had in December last year, said the government is planning to privatize fuel pipelines in January this year.

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