A crude oil tapping point on the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP) operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited has been discovered in Nonwa, Uedume community in Tai council of Rivers State.

This was confirmed by the Executive Director of, the Youth and Environmental Advocacy Centre, (YEAC-Nigeria) Fyneface Dumnamene who was present at the site for observation alongside other relevant stakeholders.

The team was led by the Chairman of Tai LGA, Hon. Mbakpone Okpe with men of the Nigerian Army, DSS, and Tai local security task force.

Also present were a combined pipeline surveillance contractors of the Tantita SSL as well as Shell staff who were on the TNP doing routine maintenance jobs.

According to Dumnamene who is an environmental right activist, a tapping point was discovered by Youths working as pipeline surveillance contractors in the area.

He said the point where the criminals were tapping the crude oil from is capable of loading two tankers of 33,000 liters.

He noted that the Shell staff were surprised that a tapping point was on their pipeline and was close to where they are but they didn’t know.

He said: “Sometime last week I was invited as an environmentalist to come and observe what was discovered. In fact, the people that discovered this point and from what they told me are the youths who are working as pipeline surveillance contractors in the area.

“They had to involve the local government Chairman who led the team to the Trans-Niger Delta pipeline in Nonwa Uedume in Tai LGA and getting there we saw that the criminals actually connected the pipe that is about 1.5 millimeters to the main pipeline (Trans Niger-Delta pipeline) and the pipe was laid out to about some kilometers away from the point where it helps them to load at least two of 33,000 liters of tanker every night. And the pipe is said to have been there for over seven years.

“And then looking at the environment as I was called to observe, I could see pollution around the area but not as much as oil extraction.”

He also disclosed that Shell was at the site for observation and it is taking steps to remove the tapping on the pipe to forestall further damage.

Dumnamene, however, condemned the act, called on the Federal Government to provide alternative livelihood opportunities for artisanal crude oil refiners in the Niger Delta through modular refineries and the establishment of the Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI).