Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintain peace and ensure the security of vital oil infrastructure across the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Fred Itua, said in a statement that the governor made the commitment when he received the leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, at the Government House, Benin City.

Okpebholo commended the new leadership of IPMAN for resolving its internal crisis amicably and assured them of the state government’s continued support in creating an enabling environment for petroleum marketers to operate smoothly.

“Let me thank the IPMAN leadership and members. The chairman, vice chairman, and regional chairman, I thank all of you because I was not around when the issue came up, and I was called upon. I quickly called my people to make sure that law and order were maintained,” Okpebholo said.

He also addressed concerns raised by the association over pipeline vandalization along the Benin Depot-Warri Refinery corridor, assuring that the government had already constituted a task force on pipeline monitoring to strengthen security in the state.

Okpebholo further hinted that his administration would empower the office of the Senior Special Assistant on Pipeline Surveillance, Hon. Joseph Okonigene, to enhance effective monitoring and protection of petroleum infrastructure in Edo State.