Host communities along the Eastern Gas Pipeline and Trans Niger Pipeline have issued a two-week ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) to settle three months of outstanding entitlements owed to surveillance contractors, line guards and other community stakeholders.
Key Highlights
- Host communities have given NNPCL and PINL two weeks to settle outstanding payments.
- Stakeholders allege surveillance contractors, line guards and other eligible beneficiaries are owed three months of entitlements.
- The demand was announced at a press conference in Port Harcourt.
- The communities want verified arrears paid and regular payments to resume.
- They are also seeking access to scholarship schemes, youth and women empowerment initiatives, and other community development programmes.
- Traditional rulers and community representatives want a clear payment schedule and a lasting dispute-resolution mechanism.
Host Communities Give NNPCL, PINL Two Weeks to Pay Arrears
The stakeholders issued the ultimatum at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, expressing frustration over what they described as prolonged payment delays despite their continued involvement in protecting critical gas pipeline infrastructure within their communities.
The group’s spokesman, the traditional ruler of Elele Alimini in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, His Royal Highness Eze Wagbara Peter, said the press conference became necessary because of growing concerns among host communities over the unpaid entitlements.
He said surveillance contractors, line guards and community stakeholders had reportedly gone three months without receiving their expected payments.
“We are deeply concerned that surveillance contractors and guards and community stakeholders have been left without their expected payments for three months,” the group said.
The stakeholders added that the payments represented more than routine financial transactions, describing them as commitments linked to the sustainability of surveillance arrangements and the livelihoods of people involved.
Communities Present Five-Point Demands
The host communities outlined a five-point set of demands, urging NNPCL and PINL to address the outstanding payments and strengthen their engagement with people living along the pipeline routes.
Their demands include the immediate settlement of all verified outstanding payments owed to surveillance contractors and line guards for the past three months.
They also called for the settlement of outstanding stakeholder obligations across the Eastern Gas Pipeline Network.
The communities further demanded that payments to surveillance contractors, guards and other eligible stakeholders resume promptly and continue in line with agreed contractual and administrative arrangements.
Host Communities Demand Scholarships, Empowerment Programmes
Beyond the payment dispute, the stakeholders called for their formal inclusion in applicable scholarship schemes, youth empowerment initiatives, women empowerment programmes and other community development projects operated by PINL and NNPCL.
They said participation should be based on transparent eligibility criteria to ensure that qualified beneficiaries from host communities can access the programmes.
The demand highlights the communities’ interest in securing broader social and economic benefits from their role in protecting critical oil and gas infrastructure.
Traditional Rulers Seek Clear Payment Schedule
The stakeholders also urged NNPCL and PINL to engage recognised traditional rulers and community representatives to communicate a clear schedule for settling outstanding payments.
They called for a sustainable mechanism to address future complaints and disputes, arguing that regular communication between the companies and host communities would help prevent recurring disagreements.
According to the group, clearer administrative arrangements would enable contractors, line guards and other eligible stakeholders to understand when payments are due and how outstanding issues would be resolved.
Communities Say Ultimatum Is Not Intended to Disrupt Operations
The host communities stressed that their demands were not intended to undermine the operations of NNPCL or PINL or discourage investment in the Niger Delta.
Instead, they described the ultimatum as an appeal for fairness, accountability and the fulfilment of obligations to communities that have accepted responsibility for protecting critical national infrastructure.
The two-week deadline now places pressure on the companies to address the reported arrears and respond to the wider concerns raised by stakeholders.
As of the time of the press conference described in the statement, no response from NNPCL or PINL was included in the account of the communities’ demands.
