Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lee Engineering and Construction Company Ltd., Dr Leemon Ikpea, has called for collaboration between the federal government and multinationals to protect the country’s oil pipelines from thieves.

He made the call at a news briefing on Friday in Abuja, to mark 31 years anniversary of the establishment of the company.

“Time has come for us to create a pool of funds to further tackle insecurity,” he said.

He decried the security situation in the country and appealed to big organisations to support the government to improve security.

Ikpea said ensuring security of the pipelines was necessary as 80 per cent of the national economy was driven by the oil and gas sector.

“We can have security fund that can be in a pool in a certain bank and if there is any flashy area, the fund can be used.

“The fund can as well be used on road construction and rehabilitation.

“Security issues should not be left for government alone to tackle, rather it should be a collective effort in terms of funding and providing information, among others,” he said.

Ikpea noted that the country has recorded an improvement in crude oil production following government’s special intervention and attention to security.

He, however, lauded the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd on its recent discovery of illegal pipelines due to heightened security.

On corporate social responsibility, he said the company established a foundation in 2012 to carter for widows, elderly and sick people.

Ikpea noted that the foundation had trained about 40 doctors working in different countries with over 189 graduates of Civil and Mechanical Engineer.

He disclosed that the company would also diversify into aviation, production, exploration, travels and tours, among others, in the nearest future.

Lee Engineering Group is a high level indigenous service provider in the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Operation and Maintenance (EPCOM) with over 30 years experience in the oil, gas and power sectors.

The company was among the 2023 recipients of the National Merit Award.