Oil and gas workers in the Federal Republic of Nigeria have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike over rising cases of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The workers under the umbrella body-PENGASSAN at a press conference addressed by the President Festus Osifo, said government must gather political will to chase out oil thieves vandalising the nation’s pipelines.
According to them, the oil theft has crumbled Nigeria’s economy, insisting the union will no longer sit back and watch.
The Union’s President said, beginning Thursday, they will organise rallies in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, Kaduna and Abuja to show its anger over the menace.
He lamented that due to oil theft, Nigeria can no longer meet the OPEC quota of 1.8 million barrels per day, even as the country struggles to produce a million barrels.
Osifo said the union had dialogued with critical stakeholders, agencies of government and service chiefs on how to curb the menace.
He said series of meetings had not yielded desired result because cartels are feasting on the economy.
“This is a menace that is overtaking the country. This is the reason Nigeria keeps borrowing to finance the national budget. Enough is enough! We have to add our voices to the current struggle. It is not going to be a one-off thing. Companies are shutting down; our members are losing their jobs in services and production companies,” Mr Osifo said as reported by orientalng.com.
He urged service chiefs to hold officers manning pipelines accountable, stressing that anyone who compromises should be made to face the law.
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