The Federal Government has fashioned out plans that will enable it meet this month’s deadline set for the privatisation of the pipelines across the country, it was learnt at the weekend in Lagos.
The government’s plans also include aggressive fixing and surveillance of the pipelines to prevent any act of sabotage that may defeat the purpose for privatising the pipelines.
Sources close to one of the companies hired by the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to provide a 24-hour surveillance of the pipelines, said the government is fixing the pipelines, and securing them in order make them attractive to prospective buyers.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Federal Government initiated the repair and surveillance programmes in order to achieve some secondary objectives.
The source said: “Based on my interaction with the management of the PPMC, I can tell you authoritatively that the government is serious with the issue of selling the pipelines to private entities, with proven track records of managing facilities that are previously owned by the state. Part of the seriousness is the issue of putting the pipelines in good condition to stimulate the confidence of investors.
“People may think that increased security network noticed around pipelines in the country was a fluke. No, it is not. It was introduced as part of efforts to provide a solid footing for the privatization of the pipelines across the country.”
Also, the Managing Director, PPMC, Mrs Esther Nmandi – Ogbue, said the government is putting in place modalities to repositioning the pipelines for growth.
She said the government is not leaving any stone unturned, in order to ensure that the pipelines are well managed and further benefit the operators, especially marketers, whose duty it is to sell fuel to consumers.
Ogbue, who spoke during a tour of pipeline in Ajebo area and Mosimi depot in Ogun State, said all hands are on deck to make the pipelines useful to stakeholders in the value chain
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, had in December last year, said the government is planning to privatise fuel pipelines in January this year.