The recent warning by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that the public should be wary of thousands of litres of adulterated petroleum products in circulation, has been a source of apprehension to not a few Nigerians, most of whom are heavily dependent on fuel as source of energy.
The NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, cautioned consumers to steer clear of the products to forestall explosion, damage to engines, equipment or any such other ugly incidents capable of leading to death or injuries.
The call for caution became necessary following reports that products from vandalised pipelines, or adulterated products are being sold to unsuspecting members of the public. It is instructive that Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Anambra State recently arrested seven suspects with three articulated vehicles, carrying 110,000 litres of suspected adulterated petroleum products.
Researchers have said that adulteration of petroleum products done often clandestinely comes in the mode of mixing higher priced fuel, such as petrol and diesel with other cheaply available hydrocarbon fuels or solvents. This changes the composition and physical properties of the base fuel.
Perpetrators of this crime do so for financial benefit to increase profits of petroleum dealers. Though those fuels are seemingly cheaper, petroleum adulteration are more harmful in terms of the damage than the diesel adulteration would do to compression ignition engines and its emissions.
Dangers associated with adulterated fuel are a legion – as it portends great horror being purveyor of domestic and office fires where generators are used often due to irregular or total absence of power supply.
At a period when the nation produces less than 4,000 megawatts of energy, the dangers can be imaginable. Besides the aforesaid is the damage such fuel pose to vehicles, personal and haulage ones, as well as generating sets used both for domestic and industrial or office purposes.
In recent times, cases of vehicles busting into flames in some parts of the country at the slightest accident, like some commercial vehicles incinerated in Surulere in Lagos penultimate week are common. The five people who lost their lives in the inferno and equal number that sustained various degrees of burns were probably victims of this.
The cost of repairing damaged automobiles and generating sets are part of the collateral damage. In the long run, such cost, especially for industrial generators and haulage vehicles often drive production cost higher, and in the process, shooting up prices of products in the market. Adulterated fuel has unimaginable damage to the health as emissions endanger public health. Also, experts have agreed that such fuel cause abnormal combustion phenomenon in spark ignition engines.
When knock is severe and persistent, it may damage the engine components, including piston rings and lands, cylinder head gasket, and piston crown. For one thing, we appreciate the timely warning from the NNPC on the harm possessed to consumers of petroleum products in parts of the country.
But the warning is not enough. NNPC must ensure that it gets to the root of the matter by ensuring that the distributors and marketers of adulterated petroleum products are exposed and punished. They are nothing but criminals.
Despite the fact that petroleum products from the NNPC depots are subjected to strict quality control to ensure that they are fit for use, one wonders why the circulation of adulterated fuel has become intractable.
We wonder why Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other relevant government agencies have not lived up to its billings by ensuring adequate quality control of the products. In the same token, the nation is not in want of laws prohibiting tampering with oil pipeline, any person who wilfully or maliciously breaks damages, disconnects or otherwise tampers with any pipe or pipeline for the transportation of crude oil or refined oil or gas.
Such villains who obstruct, damage, destroy or otherwise tamper or interfere with the free flow of any crude oil or refined petroleum product through any oil pipeline, or distribute adulterated fuel shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life.
More than ever before, there is the urgent need to increase surveillance on pipelines in the country and also ensure adequate enforcement of existing laws. Besides, all culprits should not only be brought to book, but also to justice.
The criminal justice system must also be strengthened to ensure certainty of arrest, investigation and conviction of the criminals who not only sabotage the system, but destroy the integrity of these vital products and the nation’s image.
