The Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has said that it has successfully engaged major stakeholders to combat pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft along the Eastern Corridor Pipeline, spanning Bayelsa and Rivers states. PINL General Manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, said this in Yenagoa during the monthly stakeholders engagement organised by the firm. Mezeh said that the company’s commitment to the sustainable development of the host communities in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s led Federal Government. He said the company’s surveillance responsibilities have been expanded beyond the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline to cover gas infrastructure and all national oil and gas assets along the Eastern corridor.
His words, “In line with our core mission of securing the Eastern Corridor pipelines, PINL has recorded near-zero incidents in the past month. The expansion reflects the trust placed in us by the authorities. Our successes on the TNP is a direct result of strong collaboration with host communities, consistent operational strategy and the commitment of our team on the ground. These achievements are rooted in the consistent application of proven strategies—ensuring the safety of our surveillance personnel, timely salary payments, and rapid community dispute resolution, all contributing to reduced downtime and increased trust. Building on this momentum and with a firm resolve to stop the bleeding of our national economy by unrelenting saboteurs, our mandate is now broadened to include all oil and gas assets, notably gas pipelines within the NNPCL-classified Eastern Corridor.” He, however, enumerated some of the challenges of the firm to include, gaps in sharing vital information, safety of surveillance guards, stakeholder connivance, leadership disputes in communities.
In his presentation, the Deputy Director, Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) Comrade Alagoa Morris emphasized the importance of environmental risk management for community and ecosystem. He stressed the need for effective environmental risk management in pipeline operations, highlighting the impact of oil industry activities on communities in the Niger Delta. Morris noted that life expectancy is lower in the Niger Delta compared to other regions in Nigeria due to oil industry-induced pollution. He cited examples of oil spills caused by equipment failure and stressed the importance of proactive measures to prevent environmental degradation. He commended PINL’s approach to environmental safety and risk management through peace-building and stakeholder engagement. The presentation also referenced the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission Report, urging cleanup of legacy oil spill-impacted environments to reduce health burdens on communities. Morris urged continued support for PINL’s non-violent crisis management approach for environmental safety.
PINL secures stakeholder support for eastern-corridor pipeline protection
