Security problems in the Niger Delta? Here come the Americans:
Nigeria hires US firm to secure oil installations
Sources close to the company said that officials of the American company had arrived Nigeria to fine tune the proposals to be submitted to government.
...the American company, whose identity could not be disclosed for security reasons, would employ the integrated smart sensors and pipeline management systems which are the first and only one of its kinds in the world.
The devices will monitor, detect and prevent the frequent vandalisation of oil pipelines and the destruction of oil installations across the country.
...the technology is capable of intruder detection and prevention...
The equipment are to be installed in strategic places to enable mobile operators and security agents in vehicles and offices to monitor, detect and recognise events, activities and movement of persons and vehicles within a distance of one kilometre on both sides of an oil installation with the aid of full motion video.
...infra-red cameras which would be installed at every 1km to 5km to cover the network of the 5 000km NNPC pipelines, cost between US$3 000 and US$20 000 each depending on the quality and range.
...the project when completed would be managed by one of Nigeria s leading indigenous oil service company and communication giant. .
Analysts say that the technology will be a landmark development in Nigeria s oil and gas industry as it will curtail the incessant vandalisation of oil pipelines and destruction of oil installations which have led to the loss of several lives and billions of dollars of oil revenue.
"..detect and prevent...first and only one in the world...enable mobile operators and security agents in vehicles?"
Have these guys ever had a close look at the terrain and are they aware just what the problems are about? It will require half of the nations security agencies to enable installation of such equipment...and the other half to protect it once in place.
This must surely be America's answer to the Nigerian 419 scam!
Back to the real world: In the early hours of today the Shell installation at Cawthorne Channel was attacked, possible fatalities amongst the Mopol on site, plus the abduction of 5 expatriates (Koreans?).