When the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo), owner and operator of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), announced its pipeline repairs, the company said it is committed to ensuring safety procedures so as it won’t cause any damage to environment.
During the exercise WAPCo said it anticipates only a minimal disruption to the activities of host communities within the vicinity of its facilities.
WAPCo also said that as part of the maintenance process, it has engaged the Environmental Protection Agencies in the respective areas and has implemented a world class effluent management system.
In Niger Delta areas, exploration activities of oil companies where oil spills have fouled rivers and farms have exacerbated tensions in the region that has faced years of militant violence.
Scientific studies have found high levels of chemical compounds from crude oil, as well as heavy metals, in the Delta region where the industry largely drives Nigeria’s economy but can leave communities’ water sources slick with contaminants.
Activists said they want to see more dialog before any oil production in the region resumes.
Our correspondent reports of possible reactions at communities in Lagos that hosts high pressure petroleum pipelines operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) over decades of environmental damage caused by leakages.
The communities health have been exacerbated by underneath water contamination from leakages caused by aged pipes and oil thieves that cause infractions on the assets.
Local community members and leaders are complaining that the NNPCL has grossly underestimated their sufferings and have not found it worthy to engage them before the planned rehabilitation programme.
In the sprawling community in Arepo in Ogun State and Baruwa community in Lagos through key sectors of Ojo local government have suffered series of severe water contamination from leakages and their plight have not been addressed by authorities.
Our correspondent who visited Baruwa community in Lagos observed that the pipeline stretches have been taken of per by miscreants and mechanics who have erected shops on the Right of Way (RoW).
NATIONAL ECONOMY, reports that although Lagos state government is strengthening security around oil and gas assets in the state following rise in oil theft with heavy consequences on both the economy and environment, water contamination from leakages have continued to spread.
The state government last year re- commenced pipleline sensitisation along the pipeline corridor to revisit and address the various challenges along the Petroleum Products Pipelime Right of Way (PPPROW).
Lagos which is now an oil producing state and host to petroleum products conveyor assets is rising to challenges associated with third party infringement of critical oil assets.
Baruwa community, a key host community is currently facing environmental impact of underground water pollution arising from frequent pipeline vandalisation.
Lagos State efforts in that direction aims to addresss exposure of erosion of overburden and vandalism, low maintenance and upgrading of pipeline systems and the prevailing contamination (soil and water).
However, the announcement by the NNPCL to rehabilitate all existing pipelines and depots have sparked a fresh resistance from leaders of the Baruwa community who insists that except remedial measures to restore potable water supply, they will not collaborate in the exercise.
Key stakeholders and oil and gas industry stakeholders have expressed concern and demands a cautious approach in the planned pipelines and depot rehabilitation exercise by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The chief corporate communications officer (CCCO) of the NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, said the company has commenced rehabilitation of pipelines and depots to strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure for long term benefits.
According to Soneye, the company has achieved cost-effective funding model for the project, but noted that funding has been a critical setback factor.
The ongoing rehabilitation project, expected to be completed within two to three years, is intended to resolve longstanding challenges in petroleum distribution.
Upon completion, Nigeria will achieve sustainable crude oil supply to refineries, seamless product distribution through pipelines, reduced reliance on trucks, improved energy security and reduced fuel importation, lower transportation costs and reduced road hazards caused by fuel tankers.
But speaking with our correspondent who visited the community to examine the level of pollution and rehabilitation, chairman Baruwa Water Pollution Committee, Pa. James Oyewole, said the community has suffered over three decades of pollution and efforts to get the NNPCL to clean up the environment and provide clean water remains elusive.
Oyewole, who spoke in company of the traditional ruler of the community, Baale of Baruwa, Chief Khalid Baruwa, said about ten years ago the company started a remediation project but was stalled as overhead water tank provided never worked for one day.
He said the community has helped in providing security around the pipeline network but authorities have neglected their plight.
On his part, Khalid Baruwa, who took our correspondent round the water project regretted that the initiative was abandoned leaving the community to depend on water vendors for clean water supply.
The Community And Decades Of Pollution
Baruwa is a host community of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited, pipeline which runs through the community from Mosinmi oil depot to Ejigbo oil facility.
The community had their wells and borehole contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbon due to oil leaks from the pipeline as a result of the aged and rusted pipeline.
In the same vein, over one million inhabitants of the area have been deprived of drinkable water since 1996 because of the oil seepage from leaking underground NNPC pipeline. Residents of the community who are largely small holder farmers have suffered persistent catarrh, irritation of the airways, wateriness, discolouration of the cornea of the eyes, skin rashes, and dermatitis.
Baruwa community is located in the Alimosho local government of Lagos State. It is drained by Lagos lagoon, Badagry creek and Lekki lagoon which runs into the lagoon. Geographically, the community lies on a poorly sorted coastal sedimentary plain and recent alluvial deposit in Nigeria. The local council is richly blessed with arable landmass of about 57.621 km2 and it is surrounded by rivers Owa and Oponu which are suitable for navigation, shing and tourism purposes.
Apart from aged petroleum pipes, vandalisation of petroleum pipelines is a major cause of pipeline fire disasters in the area.
However, except the number of deaths recorded, little information of the effects of such disasters on the environment is often reported and post-disaster remediation process is thus usually unmonitored or ineffective.
Over the years, crude oil spillage through pipeline vandalism is considered one of the major problems in Baruwa.
Rising cases of pipeline vandalism by unknown persons have significantly affected sources of revenues of government and oil companies operating in Nigeria.
This has resulted in significant negative socioeconomic and environmental problems in the community with serious effects on human lives and farm lands.
Although factors such as institutional weakness, lack of effective implementation of environmental laws were hypothesised as the causes of vandalism in Nigeria and they are considered neither exhaustive nor confirmed as no available empirical evidences can be found confirming the asserted causes of vandalism.
However, a number empirical researches claimed that institutional weakness, injustices, marginalisation and corruption force people to fight for justice in a negative way.
On its part, the NNPC, had blamed pipeline vandalism, crude oil and petroleum products theft for the not-too-impressive performance of some of its subsidiaries and division as recorded in its recently-released audited financial statements.
In a note to the audited financial statements obtained from the NNPC, the corporation, however, noted that the significant increase in crude oil price in 2018, impacted positively on the financial performance of majority of its subsidiaries.
The release of the 2018 Audited Financial Statements (AFS) of its 19 Strategic Business Units (SBUs) and a Corporate Services Unit (CSU), made it the first time in its history that the NNPC is making public its audited financial statement.
However, the NNPC said, “The continuous vandalism of NNPC pipelines resulted in an increased cost of pipelines maintenance alongside loss of crude oil and petroleum products.”
NATIONAL ECONOMY reports that vandalism of NNPC pipelines across the country rose by a phenomenal spike of 50 per cent in January 2020.
This information is part of the monthly financial and operations report, which was released in April that year.
In 2020, 60 pipeline points were vandalised compared to 40 incidents recorded in December 2019. Atlas Cove-Mosimi and Mosimi-Ibadan axis pipelines accounted for 50 per cent and 17 per cent of the breaks respectively, with the remaining 33 per cent being accounted for by all other routes.
The NNPC is already collaborating with the local communities and other stakeholders to curtail this menace.
Group managing director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, also decried the activities of pipeline vandals whose nefarious act torched parts of the corporation’s pipeline network especially in Abule Egba area of Lagos State which has claimed lives and properties of innocent Nigerians.
He said NNPC was collaborating with all security agencies in the country to curb the occurrences of pipeline vandalism across the Country.
He stated that as part of measures to mitigate the incidences of pipeline vandalism, NNPC planned to deplore Horizontal Directional Drilling Technology (HDDT) as a check on the unwholesome incidences,
Kyari, disclosed that HDD technology would make it difficult for the vandals to easily vandalise the pipelines.
“We are having a syndicated approach to the pipeline challenge.
” First, there is the security aspect of it, over which we are getting the optimum support and cooperation of the entire security network spearheaded by the Chief of Defence Staff.
“This is working already. Another is at the level of the National Assembly which has stepped into this, with an Ad hoc Committee working on how to assist us to stem the menace of pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.”
Mallam Kyari explained that the minister of state for petroleum resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, was equally engaging stakeholders to bring everybody on the table to arrest the situation.
He added that even President Muhammadu Buhari had taken the matter up as he considered it as of national urgency in order to guarantee energy security in the country.
He said curtailing the spate of vandalism would also ensure that resources do not end up in the hands of wrong people to prevent collateral damage that might be apparent in the phenomenon.
He stated that whenever incidences of crude oil or petroleum products spill happened in communities due to activities of vandals or age of the pipelines, the corporation as a routine, restored such lines, cleaned the environment and contained the likely effects of the leaks.
The NNPC GMD informed that there was massive stealing of the country’s crude and petroleum products as a result of a ready market for the illicit business, adding that collaboration with the security agencies could put a stop it.
Kyari explained that the illegal activities of pipeline vandals have rendered most of NNPC depots inactive, necessitating long distance transportation of products, with its attendant heavy impacts on road infrastructure across the country.
He averred that if NNPC depots were allowed to function as designed, the regular congestion of tankers at Apapa, Lagos, would be prevented, hinting that NNPC would not despair, but would continue to synergise with all relevant agencies and stakeholders across the country to find a lasting solution to the pipeline vandalism menace ravaging the nation’s downstream infrastructure.
Facing Ecological Disaster
The community, is presently exposed to possible pipeline breach by thieves as a result of incessant rainfall which has brought the buried pipes on the surface.
Our correspondent who visited the community reports that most of the pipes are now exposed.
Baruwa, a sprawling Lagos community already battling with underground water contamination that has constrained residents efforts in managing COVID-19 spread without potable water is now living in fear.
With over 300 boreholes and wells contaminated with various petroleum products, there is no doubt that there is fire in the mountain for Baruwa community.
In Baruwa, serial fire outbreaks have further complicated environmental challenges in that community hosting high pressure petroleum products conveyor infrastructure.
The community has expressed serious worry about new wave of vandalism of oil assets following alleged impotence of the contractor engaged by government to secure about 151 kilometers of pipelines stretching from Atlas Cove bypassing Baruwa to Mosimi in Ogun State.
Our findings in the past exposes a serial fire outbursts on major petroleum products artery operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) in Lagos.
Oil theft along that corridor has remained unabated raising fundamental questions about alleged conspiracy between private security outfits engaged by government and the vandals in the impermissible business.
In a letter dated 6th October, 2020, and signed by the Baale of the community, Alhaji Halid Baruwa, Pa J.O Oyewole, chairman Baruwa Water Pollution Committee and Prof. J.A Ogungbangbe, and addressed to the Senator representing the area, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan, complained about devastating effects of petroleum products leakage on plants and other micros because of the change in the balance of ecology in the environment.
The letter complained that places of worship, factories, schools, hotels and every social and economic activities are not spared.
On incessant pipeline attack in the area, Baale of Baruwa, Alhaji Baruwa, said, “We held a crucial meeting with other stakeholders after I reported several infringements on the pipeline.”
Also, one of the community leaders, professor Joseph Ogungbagbe, described the situation as unfortunate, saying that the community had battled with the pipeline incidents since 2004.
Ogungbagbe, said that the entire community suffers various ailments arising from contaminated water from petroleum products leakages.
According to him, the NNPC has refused to accept responsibility that aging pipeline had caused extensive underground water contamination.
He said, “Until the community wrote to the presidency and TETFUND funding a research on the major causes of the contamination. It was a four year research work that eventually proved NNPC wrong, because from our findings they don’t want to stop pumping products so they would reject our position until the research proved that since 2004 after the first vandalism was reported that petrol had been leaking up till today.”
To confirm the environmental crises in the community, a recent research report which was supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, to examine the depth of environmental hazard exposed to Baruwa community exposed weak regulations in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, and deep environmental challenges of the community.
The public presentation of the report which was released in Lagos titled, ‘Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Groundwater Remediation Using 21ST Century Technology’ was the high point of a research work coordinated by Professor S. A. Ola, a Professor of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering at the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA and Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, ABUAD, alongside 5 other professors.
The research project financed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TetFund, examined the extent to which petroleum products spill has damaged the environment and causing groundwater contamination of a Lagos community, known as Baruwa for over twenty years.
At the public presentation of the report, the community heads led by the Baale of Baruwa Alhaji Khalid Baruwa lamented what was described as deliberate neglect by government agencies even as residents were deprived of their main source of livelihood which is farming caused by pollution from petroleum products spill.
In their presentation read by Professor J. A Ogungbamigbe, 1996 marked the year of entry of pollution to wells in the area. Initially the entry was insignificant as full attention and subsequent repercussions was not given to it until a proprietor of a school at the entry point of the community raised first alarm that there was unsatisfactory foul odour emitting from her well.
A few months later, a landlord reported the same experience until the Baale and some community elders took samples of the water to the Lagos Water Corporation which Its laboratory analysis and results revealed that the pollution was caused by petroleum products.
It was the confirmation that made the community reflect on the vandalisation of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, between 1994 and 1996 in the federal housing estate, Abesan which later formed basis of presentation of the paper of Engr. Kupolokun the then group managing director of the NNPC at the public enlightenment campaign of the effect of pipeline vandalisation on April 29, 2005.
It was the Lagos Water Corporation result that opened the window of communication between the Baruwa community and the NNPC/PPMC and other environmental agencies.
According to Professor Ogungbamigbe, all the initial engagements produced no tangible results even with letters written to senate committee on petroleum resources which reported that it has been informed by PPMC that consultants were being shortlisted to assess extent of damage and scope of repairs to be done.
Between 1996 up to 1998, there was initial flurry of activities when the community was almost turned to Mecca of sort by numerous organism and individuals who are very curious about the press for more in view of the widespread pollution.
The report revealed copious volumes of fuel leak continuously into the Baruwa community year in year out without abatement, and the leakages is coming from the pipes carrying Products from Atlas Cove to Mosimi for over 20 years.
“The publicity and activities of Baruwa community about the evil that NNPC and PPMC are perpetrating through their nonchalant attitude attracted the attention of the whole world that Baruwa became a point of attraction and research to many universities in Nigeria and journalists all over the world,” Ogungbamigbe stated.
Continuing, he said, “It is necessary to let this gathering know that the Nigerian pressmen tried to help by many publications, some of which wee included in the compendium of Baruwa community activities, still NNPC/PPMC do not believe or could not be convinced that they should do something about the abatement of the leaking pipes.”
However, the publicity embarked upon by the community attracted the research team from the Federal University of Technology Akure led by Professor Ola to execute the research work.
In his presentation at the forum, the Executive Secretary, of TetFund, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa said the agency was indeed delighted to be associated with the workshop.
According to Baffa, the researchers, led by Engr. Prof. S.A. Ola are beneficiaries of the TETFund-sponsored National Research Fund (NRF).
The NRF programme is one of the major intervention programmes of the Fund that is domiciled under the Education Support Services Department and is meant to support cutting edge research proposals that will significantly contribute to national development.
Baale of the community is now crying out to both federal and state governments to intervene in their matter as they go extra mile to get water to battle the virus through constant washing of hands, clothes and even to cook.
Baruwa, said that quick intervention will save his people and avert community spread of the virus in the area.
Intervention By Lagos Government
Twenty four years after ruptured petroleum pipeline reportedly contaminated underground water in Baruwa area, present administration of Lagos state has commenced efforts to provide potable water to the community.
This follows the historic visit of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ascertain the level of environmental degradation of the community as a result of petroleum products leakage in the community.
Confirming the latest intervention measures of the government the Lagos Water Corporation, said the Corporation is at the point of procuring contractors to commence immediate remedial projects of sinking new water boreholes to provide potable water to the community.
“Baruwa is not the only community we are working on we are sinking more boreholes even to serve other areas around the vicinity,” said the corporation.
Apart from the ongoing short term measure the corporation is embarking on network expansion project to fully connect those communities to its dedicated pipelines to ensure sustainable supply.
The Baruwa water issue was escalated because the available boreholes sank previously were shallow wells which could not guarantee hygienic drinking water.
The community in a letter to the governor sited by our correspondent, decried cost of procuring usable water in the last 24 years which range from between N1,000 to N1,500 daily by families.
The letter signed by the Baale of Baruwa, Alh. Halid Baruwa, dated 6th of May, 2022, said families spend between N2,000 to N3,000 daily to procure drinking water, adding, “We have faced serious health hazard like, irritation of eyes, skin and mucous memberances, nausea and nervous system depression for a long time.
Lagos State Government said the sum of N300 billion would be required yearly to meet its Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, target on universal access to water for its growing population.
Sanwo-Olu, has however, expressed readiness of his administration to improve the water supply needs of residents towards achieving universal access to safe water by 2030.
The governor who highlighted the challenges of achieving sustainable water supply at the second edition of the annual International Water Conference, organised by Lagos state Water Regulatory Commission, LASWARCO, noted that Lagos State Water Corporation produces 210 million gallons per day, MGD, against the daily water demand estimate of 540 MGD.
The figure showed a clear deficit of over 300 MGD, which translates to less than 40 per cent of population having access to clean and safe water.
While stating that government was not oblivious of the huge gap and its consequences on the health of the populace, he stressed that his administration remained dedicated to its goal of becoming a global point of reference in the provision of sustainable safe water and sanitation for its increasing population.
Sanwo-Olu further stated that in furtherance of his commitment to affordable and sustainable clean water supply, his government has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with WaterAid, an international non-governmental organisation on capacity building for approved regulation and expansion of clean water access.
He assured that phase II of the Adiyan Water Project which now stands at 80 per cent completion stage would soon become operational.
