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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Thousands of people from the host communities of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) have benefitted from a free medical outreach and food palliatives, as Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) marked the end of 2025 with the largest corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative it had ever held during Christmas. The event was held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The beneficiaries cut across the three local councils of Southern Ijaw, Ogbia and Yenagoa.
Dr Akpos Mezeh, the General Manager, Community Relations and Stakeholders Engagement of PINL, while handing out the palliatives to the beneficiaries, said the gesture was the company’s way of showing appreciation to the communities for their support and for maintaining zero infractions on the TNP in the last one year.
He added that the gesture was part of the company’s effort in assuaging the impacts of the harsh economy on the communities.
“We are glad to do this because Bayelsa has demonstrated excellence. They have demonstrated capacity in the sense that one year down the line, there has been no pipeline infraction in the whole state and we feel that it is enough to celebrate; and there is no better way to do that than to come here to say thank you to our chief partners who have been committed, and dedicated in the fight against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, “Mezeh said.
He said the company realised that the communities need medical attention as well as palliatives to mitigate the negative impact of flooding which is a common occurrence in the areas.
“That’s why we have come here to distribute this items to you and I want to thank you and urge you to continue to maintain the momentum in the fight against pipeline vandalism,” he said.
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He appealed to youths of the communities to maintain the momentum in order to enable the Federal Government meet up its oil output target for 2026.
“Going forward, we want to appeal to the youths of our communities to maintain the momentum in the fight against pipeline vandalism. We want to ensure that we achieve the target set by the federal government in terms of production output and we believe that with the current momentum, we’ll achieve the target,” Mezeh stated.
He announced that the palliatives would be distributed round the 216 communities under its area of operation and cutting across Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo and Abia States.
Head of the PINL Medical Team, Sokaribo Oweredaba, while speaking with journalists, said over 800 persons benefitted from basic medical interventions such as eye test, blood sugar test, awareness on common ailments in the communities among others.
He said: “We have been able to reach out to over 800 persons. We are giving them eyeglasses, treating basic ailments, checking their blood sugar and also make referrals where necessary.
“This period is a difficult time for everyone and bringing healthcare closer to the people matters a lot, and so it’s good they take advantage of this opportunity.”
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary communities, Chairman of Southern Ijaw Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness, Darious Job, commended the company for remembering host communities at this critical time.
The monarch assured on behalf of the communities of continued partnership with the company.
