Petroleum Pipeline Explosions In Nigeria: Causes & Solutions
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By Fred Latimore - Lagos.
May 27th, 2008
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The series of petroleum pipeline explosions and
vandalization in Nigeria is a pointer to the high
level of poverty and the desperation of the people to
survive in an economy that has been consistently
distorted by the ruling elites and their foreign
economic criminals.
Nigeria is the seventh oil producing nation in the
world and fifth ranking oil supplier to the United
States. Yet, over 90% of Nigerians are starving
coupled with poor health care, declining standard in
education, highly congested labour market, corruption
rising to an alarming proportion from top through all
levels of government and public service.
The poverty level in Nigeria is responsible for
diverse criminal activities in and around the Country
including the militia experiences in the Niger Delta,
a region that have been rendered impotent through oil
spillages, causing massive damage to farm lands,
polluted rivers thereby making the fishermen in the
region jobless. Their homes are shantees, few meters
away from Chevron Escravos mansions and master class
staff official residence.
Daily, poor Nigerians read in the newspapers and
listen to television as well as cable news channels of
how their nation's wealth is wired away to foreign
bank accounts by the ruling elites in collaboration
with their criminal counterparts. Looking around,
frustration and bitterness seem to overshadow
everyone. The struggle for survival therefore is the
reason for series of crimes including the consistent
vandalization of petroleum pipelines.
It is now a common believe in Nigeria that you have to
hustle your way to survive since the government have
no clear cut socio-economic programmes that will
enhance the quality of life of the people. It appears
that everybody is a government unto himself or
herself. The poverty alleviation programme of the
federal government is only on paper as the impact
remain to be felt by Nigerians. The activities of the
National Poverty Aviation Programme (NAPEP) is only on
the pages of Newspapers and television news. It is not
on ground, not reaching out to the exact poor masses
of Nigeria. It has become a mere political propaganda
by professional politicians and the ruling party in
Nigeria.
In a nutshell, the following factors are basically
responsible for the consistent vandalization and
petroleum pipeline explosions;
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The rate of poverty is growing by the day and government is yet
to demonstrate enough political will to tackle poverty in the land.
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The poor people are frustrated and angry. They now seek to
survive at any cost including engaging in criminal activities. The
only handy stuff around them is the petrol that flows through the
pipes behind their homes and farmlands. Therefore, their share of
the national cake is the amount of petrol they are able to steal
from the pipelines.
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The flambouyant life style of our politicians and
elected government officials is not helping matters.
The people watch on television, read in the newspapers
how their elected representatives and government
officials are stealing billions of naira from the
state and federal treasuries and lodging the monies in
foreign banks for themselves and their immediate
families. This has also accounted for the
determination of majority of Nigerians to survive at
all cost.
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The pipelines right of way is not supported by modern technology
as to help reduce vandalization.
Furthermore, security around the pipelines is weak and
something must be done urgently to protect the
pipelines, knowing fully well that the Nigerian
economy is driven mainly by the oil sector.
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SOLUTIONS:
State and Federal Governments must therefore
work extremely hard to fight corruption and poverty so
as to raise the quality of life of the people. A
hungry man is an angry man. The people are ready to
die hence the previous death tolls recorded in
pipeline explosions did not deter them from further vandalization. The government must wake-up from
slumber to reality of the day. Elected leaders should
realise that they are there to bring about quality
life for the people and not to see leadership position
as the quickest means to enrich themselves at the
detriment of the majority of the people of Nigeria.
Honestly, politics in Nigeria is more of a commercial
venture than a means for rapid socio-economic
advancement. This trend has to be reversed to produce
quality leadership.
If practical and result oriented steps are not taking
by the three levels of government to bring about
improved condition of living, sooner than later a
violent revolt by the people against the few rich
elites may occur which can result to civil war; and at
that time it will be extremely difficult to regain
Nigeria as one united federal Republic. To avoid this
therefore, various government must take the bull by
the horn. They should remember that where there are
too many poor people around, the rich are perpetually
in danger. They will always be the prime target in the
event of war or mass revolution.
FRED LATIMORE OGHENESIVBE, is a Political
Scientist/Public Affairs Commentator and The Executive
Director of Campaign for the Economic Empowerment &
Development of the Niger-Delta (CAMEEND).
62 Kudirat
Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.
TEL: 01-7765562,
08024550050
Email: freddielatimore@yahoo.com
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