Stakeholders Laud PINL For Oil Pipeline Safety 

Oil and Gas Stakeholders in the Niger Delta have expressed delight over the improved oil output from the region, attributing it to the activities of the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), the contracting firm providing security to the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).
The stakeholders, including the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), insisted that the pipeline infrastructure in the region has been adequately covered thereby meeting up its target since the inception of the PINL.
Speaking at the One-Day Interactive Forum of Oil and Gas Host communities, organised in appraisal of PINL’s operations on the Trans Niger Pipeline, held in PortHarcourt, Thursday, the Director, Energy Security, Office of the National Security Adviser, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, lauded the PINL, saying the company was operating in line with the mandate given to it by the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser .
Represented by Young Harry Amachree, Flag-Amachree said, “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, 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”.
Noting the economic implications of pipeline safety, Flag-Amachree said all hands must be on deck to drive the economy forward.
He said, “when the treasury of the nation drops, it affects Nigerians and so when it comes to securing the pipelines, everyone of us must put our hands together to achieve our common goal.
“We have prosecuted more than 100 suspects as of today and some serving prison terms.
“The teams 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.”
On his part, the Head, Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, Project Monitoring Office, NNPCL, Engr. Akponine Omojevwe, commended PINL for its efforts which has led to improved output on the Trans Niger Pipeline.
Omojevwe said, “we want to appreciate you,  the PINL, 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”.
While calling for more efforts by the PINL, Omojevwe said, “so, from our side, we are saying that for PINL to do very well, it depends on you also. It must be a collaborative effort. Everybody is involved so long as this surveillance is involved”.
Also speaking, the President, Movement for the Emancipation of Izon Ethnic Nationality, Dr. Kennedy West, expressed gratitude for surveillance activities of the PINL.
“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”, West stated.
Earlier in his remarks, the Community Relations Consultant, PINL, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, said the essence of the engagement was to appraise the company’s activities in the Communities for the years and seek ways of improvement.
According to him, PINL’s mandate to protect the Trans Niger Pipeline has been achieved through engagements with the host communities calling for a united front against pipeline vandalism.
Reeling the activities of the company, Mezeh said, “We have carried out social investments based on needs assessment done mitigating the socio-economic 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, of course, that is giving us increased crude oil production and has boosted investors’ confidence in our economy with the attendant revenue increase.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu