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- Expands Oil and Gas Surveillance Pro Bono
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has called on communities along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) to provide real-time information around the critical assets to ensure optimum protection.
PINL also announced that it has expanded its operations ‘pro bono’ to include all oil and gas facilities in close proximity to the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).
The company, whose primary area of operations is on the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline, said it decided to provide the free services in the interest of national development.
General Manager, Community Relations and Stakeholder Engagement of PINL, Dr Akpos Mezeh, disclosed this while addressing stakeholders from host communities of the TNP in Bayelsa over the weekend.
“We wish to restate that PINL has taken on the responsibility of providing security for all oil and gas assets in proximity to the TNP, “Pro Bono, even though they are not under its current mandate. To this extent, we urge stakeholders to scale up vigilance and real-time community intelligence around these assets in the interest of national security, ” Mezeh said.
He also disclosed that following from previous meetings, Biseni community has been included in its operations, while plans are on to include other communities from Sagbama Local Government Area.
“Acting on recommendations from our last meeting, PINL has granted the inclusion of Biseni and other deserving communities in its surveillance engagements.
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” Furthermore, recommendations have been submitted to the appropriate authorities for inclusion of more communities that host critical oil and gas assets in the eastern corridor, ” Mezeh stated.
Giving a rundown of its successes for the month under review, the PINL official stated that there was no case of pipeline vandalism in the state and on the entire TNP, attributing the feat to the collaboration between the company, security agents, and community stakeholders.
He emphasized that there has been sustained oil and gas production in the eastern corridor, increased host community development trust funding, and peace in the communities.
Mezeh informed the stakeholders that the empowerment of 2000 women and girls from the host communities under the PINL Women Entrepreneurs & Empowerment Initiative has completed data capturing for host communities in Abia, Imo, Rivers, and Bayelsa.
He explained that the program focuses on small business development, financial literacy, and skills training for women and girls, adding, “Verification of data is ongoing, and beneficiaries will be contacted shortly”.
President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba, in his speech, thanked PINL for recognising the roles of the host communities and the traditional institutions in its operations.
On his part, the President of the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, Jonathan Lokpobiri, commended PINL for nipping in the bud most of the problems that have bedeviled communities in the region.
