By Paul Williams
Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, Director, Energy Security, Office of the National Security Adviser, has commended Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) for constantly engaging with stakeholders from communities hosting the Trans Niger Pipeline.
Flag-Amachree, who was represented by Mr Young-Harry Amakiri during a stakeholders meeting to appraise the company’s operations on the TNP, commended PINL for effectively carrying out the mandate given to it by the Federal Government.
Flag-Amachree noted that the issue of pipeline security should be of utmost concern to everyone, stressing that whenever the country’s treasury is affected through vandalism it affects everybody.
He called for concerted efforts by communities and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the common goal of achieving zero infractions on the pipelines is achieved.
Flag-Amachree also urged the communities not to hoard information that could lead to the arrest of vandals in the various localities, adding that the government is committed to ensuring security for all citizens.
“I want to personally appreciate PINL for the work they are doing. It was a mandate that was given to them by the President to secure the pipelines and with your collaboration and what we are seeing today is impressive.
“This is a meeting of appraisal and I have listened to everyone and everyone is towing the same line with my thought and I want to say PINL thank you for a job well done.
“When it comes to securing the pipelines , everyone of us must put our hands together to achieve our common goal,” he said.
The Director Energy Services added: “When the treasury of the nation drops, it affects everyone of us that’s why we need everyone of us to put our hands together to achieve this common goal”.
Flag-Amachree further assured that perpetrators of pipeline vandalism won’t go unpunished as the Office of the National Security Adviser has set up an investigation and prosecution team to prosecute vandals. he disclosed that over 100 suspects have been prosecuted so far by the team, with 15 already convicted.
“We have prosecuted more than 100 suspects as at today and some serving prison terms.
“The team are working 24 hours to make sure that those involved in this illegal activity are dealt with according to the law.
“So I’m giving you the assurance that whatever information you have about these vandals, please don’t hesitate to call our attention to apprehend them,” he stated.
Also speaking, Head Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, Project Monitoring Office of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, Engr Akponine Omojevwe noted that there have been so much improvement in terms of output since PINL took over protection of the pipelines.
He however called on the communities and sub-contractors to collaborate more with the company to achieve maximum results.
“So from our side, we are saying that for PINL to do very well, it depends on you also so it must be a collaborative effort. Everybody is involved so long as this surveillance is involved.
“So we want to appreciate you because from what we have observed, a lot has really changed. If we look at the tender receipts of 2 years ago, there are lots of improvement so we can say that you have done well and we appreciate you but also urge you to put in more efforts,” he stated.
On his part, President of the Movement for the Emancipation of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND, Dr Kennedy West, passed a vote of confidence on the activities of PINL.
He said it was rare to see companies operating in the region giving host communities the opportunity to sir their views on issues affecting them.
West said with such conversations, pipeline vandalism would be a thing of the past in the communities.
He also called for an upward review of the PINL contract online with current realities to benefit more communities.
“I want to thank PINL for bringing people from 215 communities within the Trans Niger Pipeline to discuss on what used to be wrong and I want to say, PINL you are getting it right.
“Not only that you have our thumps up but we are using this medium to reiterate a vote of confidence on Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited. We are not just saying that but we are using this medium to also call on NNPCL to do an upward review of the contract based on current realities so that there will be financial boom within the communities,” he stated.
The Oneh-Eeh Eleme, in Rivers State, King Philip Osaro Obele, in his submission called on the Office of the National Security Adviser to look into the plight of host communities especially Eleme, adding that the communities are suffering so much from pollution and other adverse effects of oil exploration.
“I’m pleading with the Office of the National Security Adviser to consider Eleme. The oil pollution we have at Ejama-Ebubu, no clean up can clear it up. The water pollution in Ogale is the worst in the world. No roads, I’m happy with PINL for calling us here to tell them our minds, take this to Abuja because they don’t know what we are suffering by answering oil producing community,” he appealed.
Speaking on behalf of the women, Mrs Ingo Iwowari, a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly asserted that women are the most hit whenever there is environmental pollution or social vices as they are the mothers of the homes whose children and husbands are involved.
She however, thanked the PINL for communicating their challenges with the communities and seeking solutions.
She called on other companies operating in the region to learn the art of communicating with their host communities from PINL.
“On behalf of myself and the women here because we are the mothers, we suffer the most if anything goes wrong. Anytime things happen, when the youths go out, because of miscommunication, they go out to rob, they go out to block roads, to burst pipelines and do all those things, it’s us the mothers that suffers.
“As you go try and encourage your sister companies working in our various communities, teach them communication please. People, women and children are suffering too much, our youths are dying too much, our husbands are complaining too much, the land is being polluted everyday. Please try and teach your sister companies the art of communication so that there will be progress and peace on our land,” Iwowari appealed.
Earlier, Dr Akpos Mezeh, PINL’s Community Relations Consultant said that the essence of the engagement was to appraise the company’s activities in host communities over the years and seek ways of improvement.
“The essence of today’s meeting is for us to appraise our journey so far and ofcourse we all started the journey together and it’s only proper that we come together from time to time for us to assess ourselves whether we are making progress or not and I think the essence of this exercise is to improve on whatever efforts we are putting in,” Mezeh said.
He noted that PINL’s mandate to protect the Trans Niger Pipeline has been achieved through engagements with the host communities, stressing that the collaborative approach has not only led to stronger relations but also forged a united front against pipeline vandalism.
He said apart from the community stakeholders, the company also has a mandate to reach out to other groups like non state actors, local government chairmen, government security agencies, regulatory agencies.
In collaboration with the communities and government security agencies, he said, the company can measure it’s achievements thus:
“We have carried out social investments based on needs assessment done mitigating the socioeconomic drivers of oil theft while promoting sustainable empowerments of our communities.
“We have also ensured that we restore the environment hitherto destroyed by incessant crude oil theft with the associated hazards.
“Also, we have achieved near-zero infractions on the Trans Niger Pipeline and ofcourse that is giving us increased crude oil production and also it has boosters investors confidence in our economy with the attendant revenue increase”.
To achieve such heights, Mezeh disclosed that the company has been able to motivate their surveillance guards through regular and timely payment of salaries amongst others.
“We have never owed them even one month. We are also passionate about the safety of workers and the people living in the communities where we have our operations.
“We have also encouraged host communities leadership through regular engagement and support,” he added.
The Community Relations Consultant further disclosed that the company have also carried out other social responsibilities and interventions that prioritized the welfare of the communities.
He however noted that some of the challenges facing the company in the communities includes difficulty in prosecuting criminals, community-stakeholders connivance with vandals, leadership tussle in communities amongst others.
