Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream and Police Committee has commiserated with the government and people of Abia State on the pipeline explosion at Umuimo and Umuaduru communities of Osisioma LGA which left many dead.
The committee led by it’s chairman, Kabiru Marafa said they were in the state for an on the spot assessment of the facilities and would compile reports as directed by the senate.
The team said their work was made easy following revelations at the sight that the state government quickly intervened and committees set up to deal with the crisis.
Senator Marafa prayed the incidence would be the last not only in Abia but in Nigeria at large.
He said the red chamber cares about the welfare and good of the people, hence the visit and commended Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his efforts at giving Abia a face lift despite the lean resources available to the state.
Th committee used the forum to call on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corportaion and the Nigerian Storage Company to take alot of caution into consideration in managing such facilities and enjoined Governor Ikpeazu to put in place strict laws that deals with indiscriminate siting of buildings close to the pipelines and along the right of way.
This he said would deal with the issues and secure lives and property at areas such facilities are located.
Governor Ikpeazu in his response said the presence of the committee has made the burden more lighter for Abia and commended the leadership of the Nigerian senate for finding it worthy to visit the beraved people of Abia.
Ikpeazu while noting that Abia bears 147 kilometers of pipe from the osisioma Depot, said it would be impossible to vandalize the facility without an accomplice from the depot.
Recall that Abia state was thrown into mourning following a pipeline explosion at Osisioma LGA of the State two weeks ago.
