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By Kelechi Nwaucha
Pipeline host communities in the Niger Delta states of Abia, Rivers and Imo, have commended the security initiatives put in place by the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd (PINL) towards securing critical national assets, such as the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).
Making their views known during a ‘Stakeholders Engagement Meeting,’ organised by PINL in Port Harcourt on Monday, traditional rulers and community leaders from the three states described the company as adequately qualified to handle the pipeline surveillance job.
PINL is entrusted with securing Nigeria’s oil pipeline transversing 215 communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo and Abia states.
According to PINL’s Community Relations consultant, Dr Akpos Mezeh, the pipeline, under their care, had recorded zero infractions, until the recent sabotage along the Ogoni axis of the infrastructure.
Dr Mezeh said the essence of the stakeholders engagement was for the host communities and the company to review how they have fared on the security of the pipeline and seek ways of improvement.
He noted that securing the pipeline depends largely on intelligence from the host communities, hence describing them as critical stakeholders in the company’s business.
Dr Mezeh further commended the communities for the harmonious relationship they had enjoyed with them since the company started operations.
“The communities are critical stakeholders in our business. We all know that pipeline surveillance is intelligence driven and how do we get reliable intelligence? It’s from the communities and so far the support of the communities have been wonderful and we think that there is no better way to appreciate the effort of the communities than organizing a forum like this where we can collectively review how far we have gone for purposes of continuous improvement because we believe that we have not gotten to where we ought to. That’s the essence of today’s meeting,” he said.
He emphasized that the success of the company’s operations is stakeholders engagement, stressing that the company has reached out to all relevant stakeholders including non-state actors, chiefs, youths, women leaders, local government chairmen to ensure inclusivity in the pipeline surveillance job.
Dr Mezeh further disclosed that the company has engaged in several corporate social responsibility programmes to ease the burden of the economy on its host communities including interventions in areas of health and infrastructure.
Leading the commendations, the Oneh-eh Eleme XI, HRM King Dr Philip Osaro Obele, paramount ruler of Eleme Kingdom noted that beyond pipeline surveillance, carrying out corporate social responsibility programmes and creating employment by PINL, there is need for the communities to get a fair treatment from the Federal Government.
The traditional ruler lamented that most oil companies operating in the areas didn’t engage their youths which most times led to pipeline vandalism and illegal oil-bunkering.
He called for increased opportunities for the host communities, provision of social amenities and skills to better the lives of the host communities.
Paramount Ruler of Tai Kingdom, HRM King Samuel Nnee, Gbeneme Tai, also commended PINL for the engagement and noted that his domain has recorded zero infractions in the pipelines because of continuous engagement between them and youths of the area.
He however said there is need for more participation of the party locals in oil exploration.
“I want to say that Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited has done well as it regards to pipeline surveillance and protection.
“But the time has come when locals should control the oils in their communities and that is the position of Ogoni people. So we are asking that Federal Government should give us our lines let us run it, let us exploit the oils and pay benefits to our people.
“It is our oil so let’s be part of it, let it be participatory, let us deal in it directly, let our children grow in the industry and we pay our royalties to the Federal Government,” Nnee said.
Also, President of the Movement For the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND, Kennedy West said PINL has saved the country billions of dollars by virtue of their surveillance activities.
He commended the company for their continuous engagement with host communities, while calling on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, to come out plain on their plans for host communities in the region for their years of support and cooperation.
“We have a credible company like PINL who have laboured, they are people friendly, they know how to go about securing pipelines.
“PINL is doing a credible job. I want to thank the management. You have saved billions of naira for the Federal Government but I want to say, how is it reflecting on the communities from the angle of the NNPCL?
West challenged communities to continue putting in more efforts in ensuring the pipelines are safe while urging the Federal Government to to fair to host communities.
“We have been cooperative, we have been very supportive, in terms of ensuring the Federal Government seamlessly carries out oil production. We want to use this privilege to urge the Federal Government to ensure that they make host communities understand what’s in there for them,” he added.
Our correspondent reports that other stakeholders and host community representatives at the event called for increased stake in the activities of the oil multinationals, better healthcare system, more jobs, provision of social amenities amongst others.
