Oil theft: Surveillance firm interfaces with host communities on strategies for pipelines security

RECENTLY, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL)  a wholly Nigerian-owned company, in charge of surveillance of the Trans Niger Pipeline held a stakeholders interface with the host communities of the pipeline.

The essence of the exercise, which took top managements of PINL to two locations in Rivers State and one in Bayelsa State, was to have a face-to-face contact with paramount rulers, Community Development Committee and youth leaders of the host communities and to hear from them directly to agree on how to achieve greater results in the job of securing the pipelines.

Some of the communities present at the first day of the meeting are from Ogoni axis (B-Dere, Tai) from Obio/Akpor (Rumuokwurusi, Rumukpoku), Emohua axis (Rumuekpe, Ndele, Iba), Ikewerre Local Government Area (Aluu, Omagwa, Isiokpo) and Abia State (Owaza community). A total of 124 communities drawn from Imo and Bayelsa states were also represented.

Leader of the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited team and General Manager, Community Relations, Akpos Mezeh, said: “the meetings were part of our regular engagements to get feedback from host communities on the performance and also get their buy-in, so we can improve on our performance.”

He noted that the company in its self assessment of its relationship with the host communities came to the conclusion that there was room for improvement, hence the decision to interface with the communities and get their input on the best way forward to achieve the desired result that could lead to greater pipeline security and ultimate elimination of illegal oil bunkering.

“We are ready to engage all the communities to ensure that we provide the necessary employment opportunities. As we speak, 100 percent of our surveillance guards are allocated to host communities,” he stated.

Dominant issues from the engagements were the need to increase community work force, engagement of competent contractor from nominees from the community, adequate and prompt payment of remunerations.

Others are ensuing that pipeline vandals, when arrested, must be prosecuted and jailed to serve as deterrent to others and prevent them from harassing the community for exposing them; provision of security and other working tools for the community surveillance workers and regular interaction with the Paramount Rulers and chairmen, Community Development Committee (CDC).

Speaking on behalf of the Paramount Rulers at one of the engagements, traditional ruler of Opuoma Autonomous community in Imo State, Eze Willy Uwakwe described the interface as a welcome development.

He said: “We like it because they admitted that they deemed it necessary because there are shortfalls from what they get from the contractor and what the contractor is telling them. That is why they decided to come and interact with us one-on-one, so we thank them for that.

“But what we are saying is that they should please ensure that they increase the number of staff. Personally, in my community, I don’t know those who are working, which is strange. I should know because in every community, my palace and cabinet know who-is-who. PINL is a good company as I said. Last year during the flood diserster, they came to our aid giving us some palliatives. So, what we are telling them is that we really need somebody from our side as the contractor in our community”.

In response to issues raised by the community leaders, Mezel described the outcome of the meeting as wonderful.

“The communities have dedicated themselves to support the company and ensure that they achieve our goals and objectives,” he said.

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

• One year after, Alaafin’s first son tells story of late king’s last moments in hospital

• Overcrowding: Lagos passengers cram inside train’s toilets as fare jumps by 35%

• ‘My husband locked me up in the room, made me beg to eat’

• Man drags sex partner to court for sending him her nude photos

• SOS: That unsuccessful Adamawa prowl…

• 2023 UTME: JAMB asks candidates to print examination notification slips