The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Oyo State says the reluctance of the NNPC to clear the overgrown bushes on pipelines along its Right of Way is hindering effective surveillance of pipelines in the state.

The new Oyo State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr John Adewoye, disclosed this on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Ibadan Zonal Office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Adewoye said the NSCDC had written the Ibadan Depot of the NNPC several letters urging the corporation to clear the bushes in order to aid its personnel in its task of surveillance.

“It is only the NNPC that can clear these places and they should do so because due to the bushes, we cannot see far ahead.

“This has forced us to conduct surveillance on the pipelines using motorbikes and this is not the best of options.

“With the present situation, the bushy right-of-way would provide hiding places for vandals to perpetrate their evil acts.”

He cited Oyo East, Surulere, Ogbomoso, Ogo-Oluwa and Akinyele local governments as locations where acts of vandalism had been identified.

Adewoye, however, said that in spite of the challenges, the command was working hard to tackle vandalism in the state.

“For instance, there has been no record of vandalism in the past six months while vandals arrested in the past are already being jailed or undergoing trial.

“We know the importance of the petroleum industry to the country’s economy and this will make us to continue to do our best in protecting critical national assets.”

He, however, solicited the cooperation of the public, especially the media, in providing adequate information to aid the command.

“Oyo State is already peaceful, but we still need the public to identify the Judas you always find in the midst of 12 disciples.

“We are here to work with the people of the state to ensure a zero-crime rate and this can only be achieved with the support and cooperation of every individual.”

In his remark, the Zonal Manager, Ibadan Zonal Office of NAN, assured the command of the support of the agency.

He said the agency in the last couple of years had witnessed tremendous transformation leading to the offering of a bouquet of services such as text content, pictures, audio and video and PR wire service.

NAN reports that the state commandant was accompanied by the Deputy Commandant, Mobolanle Odekeye as well as Assistant Commandants, Michael Fadina and Dapo Fasae. (NAN)