Nat’l Security to provide 24-hr surveillance on oil pipelines in Atuabo enclave – Amewu reveals

The National Security (NS) has been tasked to provide a 24-hour surveillance on all the oil pipeline facilities located in the Atuabo enclave, Minister of Energy, John Peter Amewu has revealed.

The directive follows a threat from a cross section of the youth in the Western Region to blow up some of the oil pipelines and other facilities to register their displeasure over the government’s neglect of communities in the oil enclave since the discovery of oil in commercial quantities Off Cape Three Points.

The youth have for some time now been complaining of lack of jobs and developmental projects in the oil enclave. To them, although there existed some job opportunities following the discovery of oil, all those opportunities have been taken over by what they described as “outsiders”.

What has even compounded their fears is the fact that the government has neglected them of developmental projects, a situation they noted, is impacting negatively on their standard of living.

Worried about this development, the youth have threatened to blow up some of the oil pipelines and other facilities if the government fails to address their concerns.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle and former Minister of Energy, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Boah, who is saddened by the threats from the youth in an urgent question inquired from Mr. Amewu what his outfit was doing about the development.

But Mr. Amewu addressing the August House told Members, Thursday, that since the matter is of urgent concern because of its security implications, the Ministry of Energy has tasked the National Security to probe into it on its behalf.

“Mr. Speaker, owing to the sensitivities surrounding this very important matter and taking into consideration its national security implications, the Ministry of Energy as part of its strategies for remedial actions is liaising with the National Security Secretariat for a coordinated efforts in dealing with the matter effectively and efficiently. We shall revert to this August House, Mr. Speaker, with a full briefing on this matter once our investigations are concluded”, he noted.