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By Godwin Chukwumaechi
As the Federal Government moves to end pipeline vandalism and oil theft, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd, (PINL) a pipeline surveillance contractor has deployed strategies to win the war on the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).
The company on Monday, through its consultant, Learn & Leadwise Resources Limited, commenced the distribution of food palliatives to Pipeline Host Communities of the TNP as part of a bouquet of corporate social responsibility packages.
The palliatives, which are for all the 215 communities on the TNP corridor, are meant to cushion the effect of the harsh economic situation in the country on the community people, and also to empower the people, give them a sense of ownership of the crude oil assets in their communities, as well as totally eliminate vandalism and oil theft.
Deborah Okumbo, Chief Executive Officer CEO of Learn and Leadwise Resources Limited, in a press conference preceding the palliatives distribution, explained that the palliatives also serve to appreciate the host communities for their cooperation and also solicit support towards ending pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and oil theft and other vices on the TNP corridor.
Speaking at Saakpenwa, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, during the kick-off of the distribution of the palliatives for 35 communities cutting across 5 councils of Gokana, Andoni, Eleme, Bonny and Tai, Okumbo said the initiative would last for a period of nine months.
She said: “We have commenced the sharing of palliatives, food items and other materials to host communities in the Trans Niger Pipeline corridor.
“The purpose of this is to first appreciate the support and corporation we’ve enjoyed from the host communities along this axis and also to solicit for more support and effort towards curbing pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and illegal bunkering,” she said.
“Once again we want to emphasise that the main target of this CSR Programme is to give the people a sense of ownership and responsibility to the assets on their land, encourage them to be part of their security and protection thereby eliminating pipeline vandalism, oil theft and kpo-fire in the communities,” she added.
She explained that the CRS programmes were agreed with the different communities after due consultation and needs assessments adding that the company was commissioned by PINL two years ago for that purpose.
“One of the things that were mentioned are skill acquisition, medical outreach which are in the pipeline, however, PINL, decided to start with food distribution inline with the yuletide season to put smiles on their faces to show that they actually care and appreciates the support from the communities and to ask the communities to take ownership of the pipelines.” Miss Okunbo stated.
She also used the medium to charge the community people to always raise the alarm anytime they suspect any strange action around the pipelines in their communities.
The CSR consultant to PINL, explained further that since the commencement of operations as the surveillance contractor of the Trans Niger Pipeline about three years ago, the company had adopted a strategy of encouraging pipeline communities to own the pipelines running through their communities to ensure their safety, adding that the company had engaged the services of youths of host communities at the different levels of the surveillance job and thus creating thousands of employment for youths in the various host communities.
She stated that other initiatives such as provision of mattresses and other household materials for those affected by flood, medical outreaches, scholarship and skill acquisition were part of the CSR programme, noting that the modalities for the CSR has been worked out with leaders of the respective communities and their contractors.
Responding, Vice Chairman of Tai Council, Mrs Barineka Kambe, who stood in for the chairman, Menubari, Matthew Duke, commended PINL for remembering the community at such a period.
She charged the company to do more in the area of skills acquisition so as to capture more people from the area.
“We thank PINL for remembering our people at a time like this especially those who don’t have what to eat.
“They didn’t look at leaders alone but called the entire people for this initiative. It shows that the company is concerned about our health.
“We pray that you continue this initiative and do more especially in the area of skills acquisition so that more of our people will benefit,” she stated.
She however, charged chiefs and leaders of the various communities not to take the palliatives for themselves alone but to ensure that it gets to all those who need them especially the vulnerable ones in their respective communities.
Responding on behalf of the benefitting communities, Emere T.E Akobe appreciated PINL for the gesture, urging them to continue to put them in their plans so as to maintain the cordial relationship between them and the communities.
He emphasised the for the company to maintain a cordial relationship with the communities in a manner that there would be mutual understanding and benefits.
