Militants suspected to be Ijaw in Delta State, have prevented repair work on the pipeline conveying crude oil to Warri and Kaduna refineries.
This development dashed the hope of early resumption of operations in the two crude oil refining plants, shut down in February following the vandalisation of their crude oil flow line.
It was learnt that the militants insisted that some demands, such as the provision of infrastructure in Gbaramatu kingdom must be met by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
A reliable source in Warri Area Office of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the NNPC, said on Tuesday that maintenance teams assembled to ascertain the extent of damage to the pipeline were barred from the scene.
Their flow line, identified as System 2C, was vandalised at a location in Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government during the recent crisis in the Niger Delta.
Our correspondent learnt that all entreaties to the militants by the NNPC�s management to allow the repair of the pipeline failed to achieve the desired results.
It was learnt that top officials of PPMC in Warri had mobilised personnel and equipment to the scene many times, only to be warned by the militants that they should not venture into the area.
�Those people (militants) insisted that we (PPMC) cannot do anything on the pipeline now, until we pay compensation and provide some life-enhancing facilities in their communities,� said our source.
Findings by our correspondent further revealed that the management of the Wilbros Nigeria Limited, an American oil servicing firm, which won the contract, was skeptical in mobilising to the site due to its recent experience.
It will be recalled that four of its expatriates were abducted by the militants in the riverside area of the region.
As a way out, it was learnt that the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Funso Kupolukun, has invited some Ijaw elders and youth leaders from the area to Abuja on Wednesday (today), to discuss the way forward.
The General Manager, Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, confirmed that the militants prevented the repair of the pipeline.
But Ajuonuma, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, expressed the hope that the matter would soon be resolved.
Ajuonuma, who was asked to confirm Wednesday�s meeting with the Ijaw in Abuja at the instance of his boss, said, �Discussion is ongoing, efforts are being made to put this sad situation behind us.�
THE PUNCH