Nigeria urged to tackle resurgence of militancy in Niger Delta

The Nigerian government has been urged to tackle the resurgence of militancy and oil pipelines vandalism in the oil rich Niger Delta region.

President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Francis Olabode-Johnson made the call in the southern city of Calabar on Sunday.

The current fight against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in the region has not recorded the desired success and needed to be intensified as the act has continued, he said.

He said the country had continued to lose huge revenue owing to the bombing of oil pipelines by militants.

"I am calling on the Federal Government to effectively check the activities of militants and pipelines vandals in the Niger Delta region," he added.

According to him, Nigeria is losing a large percentage of its revenue due to the activities of the militants.

"I want government and the multinational oil companies to use modern technologies in checking pipelines vandalism and crude oil theft," he added.

The oil union boss added that modern technologies should be used in such a way that vandals could not access.

"We also expect the managers of these pipelines to imbibe the culture of regular maintenance while government lives up to its responsibility of providing security to these national asset," he said.

Olabode-Johnson appealed to the security agencies protecting the pipelines to be more resolute in carrying out the assignment.

Recent attacks on oil and gas facilities by militants have heightened tension in the Niger Delta region. Endit