By Faridat Salifu
The Bayelsa State government has strongly condemned the “criminal damage” inflicted on the Ogboinbiri/OB-OB 24-inch Gas Pipeline, located between Angiama and Angiamagbene in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
In a statement issued over the weekend by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, the government labeled the act as economic sabotage that will not be tolerated.
While the statement did not specify the owner of the pipeline, it was reported that the facility, also known as the Ogboinbiri/OB-OB gas pipeline, was previously operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company.
Efforts to gather more information from community sources were hindered due to poor network connectivity in Yenagoa.
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Koku-Obiyai emphasized the government’s commitment to collaborating with security agencies to apprehend those responsible for the vandalism.
She called on citizens to recognize that safeguarding national assets is a collective responsibility and urged them to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement.
The statement further warned that damage to public assets not only leads to revenue loss for federal, state, and local governments but also poses significant environmental risks.
Exposure to natural gas and petrochemicals can present serious health challenges to the community.
In her appeal, Koku-Obiyai encouraged the youth of Bayelsa to reject destructive behaviors and instead work alongside the government to maintain peace and protect public infrastructure.
She stressed that by working together, the state can achieve the government’s prosperity agenda and attract investments to improve infrastructure.
