Pipeline Surveillance: PINL acknowledges efforts to undermine its operations as host community lauds company’s exceptional capability

Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, a foremost indigenous Company, contracted by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL for pipeline surveillance in Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo and Abia States, has acknowledged efforts by some agents and their proxies to undermine its operations, just as the firm has been commended by the people of Ilelema Community in Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, for showing exceptional capability in executing the job so far.

Addressing newsmen, Thursday January 19, at Angiama Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, a Community Guard with Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Prince Layefa Toikumoh A.K.A Three Lions of Niger Delta, explained that the media engagement was organized to set the records straight and correct the attendant mischief by detractors to sabotage its work.

Whilst noting that in partnership with the security agencies, PINL have identified flash points of illegal bunkerers and have closed most of such sites in Odua, Oworovor, Okoma, Karama, Kalakolu, Oruma, Otuega, Agbura, Agonbri, Ikiamagbene, Ikiayagbri, Obololo, Kpologbene, Egbema and other communities in Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo and Abia States, Prince Toikumoh, averred: “ A core strategy of our modus operandi, is to meaningfully and constructively engage and work with critical stakeholders in communities in our areas of responsibility (AOR) to put an end to the grand theft of crude oil and other related products and as well curtail if not wipe out completely it's attendant damage to our environment and ecology.

Some indigenes of Angiama Community, Southern Ijaw LGA, during the solidarity protest, yesterday

“It is a well-known fact that reactionary forces, will always pull up strategies to fight back, akin to corruption fighting back. We call on these persons to stop forthwith or be prepared to face the full weight of the law as enabled in our terms of engagements.

“We are also calling on all critical stakeholders in our areas of operations, to partner with us to restore normalcy in this critical sector of our Nation's economy. The Nation and especially the Niger Delta, cannot afford a continuation of criminality under any guise to continue, as our people are in the front line of the negative consequences of their nefarious activities. 

“We are aware that there is a thriving eco system that gives lives to the activities of these oil thieves, we are by this press conference, sending out a final message for them to retrace their steps and seek sustainable livelihood, or else, as mandated by Mr. President, the law will have no mercy on them”.

Some indigenes of Angiama Community, who staged solidarity protest during the media briefing, carried placards with inscriptions such as, “We support and endorse the work of pipeline infrastructure Nigeria Limited”, “Pipeline Infrastructure has done well to curtal oil theft and illegal bunkering in our area/communities” as well as “we support pipeline infrastructure in curbing illegal bunkering and protecting our environment and ecology”.

In the same vein, the Chairman of Ilelema Council of Chiefs in Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Alabo Kingsley S. Igbanibo, who spoke through Mr. Philip Okere, on Friday January 20, during a press briefing, commended the Federal Government, through NNPCL, for awarding the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) to PINL, so as to end the menace of illegal bunkering, which had placed the communities in great danger.

L-R: Mr. Dahonjo Peri, Alabo Kingsley S. Igbanibo, Mr. Philip Okere & Alabo Adokiye George

He also gave plaudits to the management of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) “for their robust community relations and engagement with respect to maintenance and security of Trans Niger Pipeline”, saying: “Over the years, we have worked with other organizations, but PINL has shown an exceptional capability in the management of the above-mentioned pipeline segment, that traverses our communities”

Igbanibo, added: “With support of the communities, PINL has made history with steady progress being made in the process of recovering and stabilizing the hitherto abandoned Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in-spite of the daunting security challenges and agitations in our communities in Niger Delta in general.

A cross section of indigenes of Ilelema Community, led by Alabo Kingsley S. Igbanibo (4^th from right, front row) staging solidarity protest

“I wish to specifically express our profound appreciation to PINL in the following key areas:

·         The peace building effort of PINL in complementing the efforts of government at various levels in Rivers State as well as the host communities in particular through meaningful engagement of a considerable chunk of unemployed youths in the surveillance of the pipeline and regular clearing of the pipeline right of way in the communities.

·         The excellent welfare package for the host community guards, including regular and prompt payment of monthly allowances and provision of PPES in compliance with HSE regulations in the oil and industry.

·         The trust and confidence built with the youths and elders of the host communities through transparency, open channels of communication and the regular town hall meetings, thus giving us (the host community leaders, woman and youth) a sense of belonging as well as making us advocates of the pipeline project.

·         The existing signed Memorandum of Understanding with us, based on individual community's needs and priorities and has also shown strong commitment to implementing same especially, in the execution of viable and community-initiated projects in the long term.

·         The clear comprehensive blue-print existing between we and PINL for environmental clean-up of the areas, where maintenance is In line with extant HSE policies/regulations in the oil and industry.

·         The provision of relief materials, including food items and other essential commodities to the 2022 flood affected host communities, as means of reducing the sufferings of those of who lost their loved ones or/and sources of livelihood due to the natural disaster”.

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