Aiteo, Oando blame host communities for oil theft, pipelines vandalism

Multinational oil giants Aiteo and Oando have blamed host communities in the oil-rich Niger Delta region for the recurring incidents of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Officials of the oil firms expressed their concerns Tuesday before the Mr. Julius Pondi-led House of Representatives committee on Environment, probing into oil theft and pipeline vandalism and its effects on the environment in oil-producing states.

Oando’s Team Lead, Philip Akuduro, claimed that the increasing appetite of the host communities to pilfer crude from the pipelines through illegal connections and damage to oil installations is responsible for the high level of oil spillage and its resultant effects on the people of the area.

He maintained that data at the disposal of his outfit on Burutu in Southern Ijaw indicates that over 90% of oil theft and pipeline vandalism were perpetrated by members of the host communities.

“Host communities are individually and collectively sabotaging the efforts of oil companies to minimise incidences of spillages in their area. Our operations, covering largely onshore and marshy areas, are easily accessible to vandals, whose activities result in spillage and pollution of the environment as oil spills are swiftly spread by the strong underwater current,” he said.

Aiteo Chief Operating Officer Ewarezi Useh, who stressed the need for a cordial working relationship between oil companies and their host communities, blamed what he termed the activities of “vested interests” for the unfortunate development.

He remarked that the activities of oil vandals were responsible for the drastic fall of production to 700,000 bpd in 2018 until recently, when the situation improved due to the combined efforts of security activities and stakeholders to nip the menace in the bud.

Both firms stressed the need for legislative intervention that will deter oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which is inimical to the economic well-being and ecosystem of the nation.

Nevertheless, members of the committee drawn from the Niger Delta Region faulted the officials of the oil firms over the sweeping accusation of oil theft and pipeline vandalism against the host communities.

Pondi, who represents the Southern Ijaw federal constituency, was particularly piqued at the use of the words “with increasing appetite and capacities for theft” used by the Oando official.

He called for the immediate withdrawal of such “unlegislative language,” which was promptly adhered to.

Pondi, at the start of the hearing, reiterated its resolve to get to the root cause of environmental degradation and pollution caused by oil companies through their operations.

He disclosed that the committee would embark on an oversight visit to the operational sites of Oando in Delta State to ascertain claims of having cleaned up the effects of the recent May 2024 oil spill in some of their fields.