Ijaw TNP host communities rate PINL high on pipeline security

Host communities and stakeholders of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Bayelsa State have rated Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) highly for its approach to protecting the pipeline in their area.

They gave an “A” rating for the company’s surveillance efforts and for its effective engagement with communities and other relevant stakeholders. This engagement has led to improved security for the Trans Niger Pipeline.

During the second day of the PINL Stakeholders Engagement Meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, stakeholders expressed that involving community members in the pipeline’s security has fostered a sense of belonging and participation among them.

Addressing the attendees, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, Community Relations Consultant for PINL, emphasized that the purpose of the engagement was to gather feedback from the communities and identify ways to enhance their operations for the benefit of both the communities and the Federal Government.

He noted that since the company began its operations in these communities, they have maintained a cordial relationship, adding that he believes the meeting will help them serve the pipeline host communities more effectively.

Dr Mezeh further stated that the business of pipelines surveillance requires steady engagement with stakeholders and community people to get credible intelligence.

“In this meeting we expect feedbacks from our community leaders and stakeholders so that we can improve because as far as we are concerned, we have not gotten to where we ought to be so there is always room for improvement.

“Ofcourse the pivotal roles as regards pipeline surveillance is continues engagement of the stakeholders because if you don’t engage with the stakeholders it would be difficult for you to know the underlying problems.

“So we’ve been able to reach out to all our stakeholders including our non-state actors, the kings, community leaders and local government chairmen,” he stated.

The PINL Community Relations Consultant noted that the cordial relationship between the company has ensured zero infractions on the pipelines, calling for more to reduce environmental degradation and increase the country’s revenue base.

“Because of the cordial relationship we have with the communities, we have been able to record zero infractions on the pipelines until the recent sabotage in Rivers State and we think that we are doing very well and we pray that the support would continue so that at the end of the day, we’ll be able to reduce environmental degradation in our communities and help to increase crude oil production and provide more revenue for the Federal Government,” Mezeh added.

He also used the forum to disclose to the communities that the company has engaged fully community persons in the pipelines surveillance to ensure that foreigners don’t benefit from it.

Mezeh also said the company has been doing so much in terms of corporate social responsibility, settlement of disputes between communities and youths employment to ensure that the youths in the communities are engaged and dissuaded from going into pipeline vandalism.

In speech, HRM, King Joshua Igbugburu, the Ebenanowei of Bomo kingdom applauded the company for engaging communities in his domain, calling on other surveillance companies to emulate them.

The Octogenarian who has been 65 years on the throne said that despite the situations in the region, he had ensured his domain recorded zero infractions on the pipelines through interactions with the youths.

He said; “Let me use this opportunity to commend the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, the operators in my domain. They are doing very well. They are taking care of the youths and chiefs and doing corporate social responsibilities. That’s what we want.

“But there are companies that are operating in my domain and they don’t care about us. They don’t know if traditional rulers are there, leaders are there but always use their guns to intimidate people and I condemn that. I must say boldly that other surveillance companies should emulate PINL,” he said.

On his part, the Vice President 2 of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, Dr Nengi James rated the company 85 percent in terms of performance but advised that they should do more in terms of corporate social responsibility.

He stated that the company should be more transparent with their empowerment processes so as to be accountable to the people.

“We are very good people and the crowed here shows that the company is doing well, however, beneficiaries of the companies empowerment should be made public and the process of selection be made open to everybody.

“This company apart from your own jobs, look at the social corporate responsibility side so that you would be accountable to the people,” Dr James added.

READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE