Multinational oil giants Aiteo and Oando have blamed host communities in the oil-rich Niger Delta region for the recurring incidents of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
Officials of the oil firms expressed their concerns Tuesday before the Mr. Julius Pondi-led House of Representatives committee on Environment, probing into oil theft and pipeline vandalism and its effects on the environment in oil-producing states.
Oando’s Team Lead, Philip Akuduro, claimed that the increasing appetite of the host communities to pilfer crude from the pipelines through illegal connections and damage to oil installations is responsible for the high level of oil spillage and its resultant effects on the people of the area.
He maintained that data at the disposal of his outfit on Burutu in Southern Ijaw indicates that over 90% of oil theft and pipeline vandalism were perpetrated by members of the host communities.
“Host…
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