The Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), has announced plans to engage 215 pipeline host communities to protect the Trans-Niger Pipeline.
According to the company, it has also deepened its engagement with host communities, providing jobs for thousands of youths and fostering stronger ties with local leaders.
PINL’s community relations consultant, Dr Akpos Mezeh, disclosed this in Port Harcourt on Monday, during a stakeholders’ meeting between the company and TNP host communities in Abia, Imo and Rivers states.
Mezeh emphasised that stakeholder collaboration has been key to securing the vital oil infrastructure.
“PINL has consistently engaged all major stakeholders within our area of responsibility to ensure collective ownership of the Trans-Niger Pipeline. Our strategy involves working closely with kings, chiefs, community leaders, youth and women groups, local government officials, security agencies, and other non-state actors,” he said.
Meze stated that as part of effort to carry the TNP’s 215 host communities along, the firm has arranged for a skills acquisition programme, scholarship and other programmes to equip the youths and sustain them in the communities.
“Based on the needs assessment from the various communities, we have skills acquisition, scholarship and other things to equip the youths and sustain them in the communities.
“Next month, we will deploy our teams to selected points to provide medical outreach to indigent residents who may not have the resources to afford such facilities.
“We are also providing pipe borne water to some of the host communities. We have already provided pipe borne water for the Asarama community in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State”, he added.
A traditional ruler, King Philip Obelle, called on the surveillance company to link the people of the host communities to the federal government as they are suffering from the effects of the oil exploration in the region.
Obelle, who is the traditional ruler of Eleme Kingdom, said: “I can assure you that since I came in contact with them, they have been interacting with the people.
“However, we acknowledge the importance of the work they are doing, but we want PINL to carry our problem to Abuja. Our communities are suffering from the effects of oil pollution.
“We have been experiencing different kinds of sicknesses because of oil exploration activities. We experience what they call acid rain and the top of our buildings are gone.”
