The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has revealed that it spent over N1.6 billion on the repairs of the vandalised Pipeline between Kaduna and Kano in 2016.

The NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr Maikanti Baru, disclosed this in Kano when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje on Tuesday.

Baru, who was in Kano to inaugurate loading operations at the NNPC depot following the repairs of the Vandalised Pipeline, further revealed that the company had also expended about N2 billion to provide security for the pipelines within the last one year.

He said it was unfortunate that the company had to spend the money to rectify the pipeline after the illegal activities of vandals.

“These are funds that would have been invested for providing other essential services,” he bemoaned.

“With the repairs of the vandalised pipeline, I am happy to tell the governor that the line is now 100 operational.

“Following the repairs of the pipeline, we have been able to transfer over 20 million litres of AGO into tanks of Kano and Kaduna refinery in addition to 40 million litres of diesel to Kano depot.

“All these would not have been possible without President Muhammadu Buhari’s support to the NNPC.

“We should ensure that apprehended vandals are appropriately prosecuted and kept away from larger community for good.

The Governor, represented his Deputy, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, commended NNPC for repairing the facility and relaunching loading operations at the depot and assured that the state government would give NNPC the necessary support to ensure provision of adequate security to the pipeline.