…commends PINL on zero infractions
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has called on host communities along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) to take greater ownership of national assets within their territories and work collectively to protect them.
Speaking through Navy Captain Lassie Audi Ozovehe at a monthly stakeholders’ engagement hosted by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) in Port Harcourt, General Musa warned that the primary victims of pipeline vandalism and oil theft are often the communities themselves.
“If you break a pipeline, the environmental and health hazards will affect the community more than the oil companies,” he said. “These assets are on your land. You benefit from them—so you must protect them.”
He commended PINL for its exemplary performance in securing the TNP, citing its record of zero infractions as a model for infrastructure protection nationwide.
Dr. Akpos Mezeh, General Manager, Community and Stakeholder Relations at PINL, the company owed its successes to a working synergy it struck with communities through which the pipelines pass.
“Our success on the TNP is rooted in effective collaboration with host communities, a consistent operational strategy, and the unwavering commitment of our personnel on the ground.”
He attributed the company’s achievements to a people-centered approach, including prompt salary payments, a strong focus on safety, and swift dispute resolution—all of which have helped reduce downtime and foster stakeholder confidence.
While highlighting progress, Mezeh acknowledged ongoing challenges such as intelligence gaps, threats to surveillance teams, and disputes within community leadership structures.
He reiterated the company’s alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing that sustainable development in host communities remains at the heart of PINL’s mission.
Traditional rulers and community stakeholders at the meeting lauded PINL’s role in minimizing pipeline breaches but called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other key actors to do more in addressing the needs of oil-producing communities.
Prince Datolu Sokubo, Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (Eastern Zone), stressed the importance of a people-first approach:
“You can’t protect infrastructure without prioritising the people. Without our cooperation, no pipeline is truly safe.”
Mene Suanu Timothy Baridam, Chairman of the Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, lamented that the environmental damage caused by vandalism and illegal bunkering has deepened poverty and food insecurity in the region.
Dr. Patricia Ogbonnaya, Ada Ekpeye-Logbo of the Ekpeye Kingdom, urged international oil companies to halt gas flaring and encouraged PINL to amplify the health and environmental concerns of the host communities.
“We are committed to ending illegal bunkering,” she said. “But oil companies must also take responsibility for the long-term impacts of their operations.”
The meeting ended with a renewed pledge by PINL and community leaders to strengthen collaboration, enhance surveillance, and promote peace and development across the region.
