PINL Awards Scholarships To 645 Persons … Presents Empowerment Packages For Host Communities.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has awarded about 645 scholarships alongside other welfare packages for the 215 communities along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).

The  Community Relations Executive, PINL, Tarilah Alamieseigha, disclosed this during the company’s monthly stakeholders’ meeting held recently in Port Harcourt.

Alamieseigha stated that the PINL was also engaged in some ongoing strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening community relations, security of the local people and empowering of women.

He said, “I bring good news from PINL. Management has approved scholarship for 3 persons per community bringing the total to 645 persons across board and it is to take effect immediately.

“Also, management has partnered with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in building a facility to address challenges with regards to investigations and prosecution across the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP). There is also a proposal for a skill acquisition designed for women underway”.

Alamieseigha noted that the company’s collaboration with the host communities has led to significant boost in oil production and stressed the need for an  increased synergy for increased productivity.

“I thank you for this collaborative effort to boost oil production in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With your collaboration and with your effort, we’ve been able to see economic growth in the nation”, he stated.

Also speaking, the Director of Energy Security, Office of the National Security Adviser, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, warned against illegal bunkering activities, insisting that anyone found guilty of such acts would be prosecuted and imprisoned.

Flag-Amachree, who was represented by Young Harry Amakiri, noted that the Office of the National Security Council has already prosecuted over 100 individuals involved in these criminal activities.

He appealed to stakeholders and community leaders to caution their children and youths against vandalism.

 In his words, “We want to plead with you to talk to our brothers, we all know these persons involved in these acts. Talk them out of these, it would help, because the business is not as usual as before, it has changed.

“As I’m talking to you, more than 100 persons have been prosecuted. Who you are doesn’t matter, even though you are a general in the army, you are a military personnel, whatever you are, if you are found guilty, you are going in for it,” he warned.

Also speaking, the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, hailed PINL for regular engagement with host communities and discouraging the youths from engaging in illegal bunkering.

Represented by his Special Assistant on Host Communities, Julius Eddie, Lokpobiri acknowledged that the efforts of PINL has boosted oil production in the country earning the ministry several high profile recognitions.

“I want to encourage you. What you are doing for the host communities and for the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a win to all of us.

“Today, because of the solutions you have proffered, illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, popularly known as Kpofire, has tremendously reduced in the region.

“Because of your efforts, today the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, was listed among the team of influential leaders in policy and leadership direction in Thisday Newspaper and Arise TV.

“I want to encourage and challenge you to continue to discourage the youths from tampering with the pipelines, because in all, we are the victims because the pollution affects the environment and as farmers and fishermen that we are, we are most affected,” he stated.

The Head, Field Operations for the Eastern Corridor, Project Monitoring Office, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Akponine Omojevwe, cautioned sub-contractors against connivance and employment of personnel without proper background checks and due diligence.

He called for proper synergy between the subcontractors and PINL to increase the performance rating of the company as well as maintain zero-tolerance on the TNP.

Omojevwe said, “the problem we are still having here is connivance, that’s why I want to talk to the PINL subcontractors to be careful. For PINL ratings to be going up, you, their subcontractors, need to be carrying out your jobs effectively, and as your employments are being made from the communities, please before you employ, carryout due diligence because most times you will suffer for it” he said.

The meeting, convened for Rivers, Abia and Imo Communities, was aimed at reviewing the operations of the company on the Trans Niger Pipeline operations.

The forum allowed stakeholders from various communities to assess the company’s performance and present their challenges.

The stakeholders commended the management of PINL for actively engaging with host communities and offered suggestions to further strengthen community relations and enhance the company’s operations.

Lady Godknows Ogbulu