Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), the company overseeing security along the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), has said its operations have contributed significantly to environmental recovery in the Niger Delta by reducing pipeline vandalism, a major source of pollution in the region.
Community Relations Consultant of the firm, Akpos Mezeh, who stated this at a stakeholder engagement in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, explained that before PINL was contracted three years ago, the region was plagued by soot from the illegal refining of petroleum products.
“This pollution darkened skies, damaged property, and harmed health across communities.
“Together with our host communities, we’ve achieved near-zero infractions on the TNP, ensuring uninterrupted crude oil production and greater revenue for the nation.
“More importantly, the soot that once covered our clothes and homes has cleared. Our environment is finally showing signs of recovery,” Mezeh said.
He added that the company’s success in securing oil pipelines has restored investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil sector and boosted government revenue.
Related Articles:
- PINL announces 646 scholarships slots, other packages for host communities
- PINL reports achievements, engages stakeholders in Bayelsa
- Host communities applaud PINL, flay FG, multinationals over neglect
According to him, beyond security, PINL continues to build peace, support local leadership, and include women and youth in its work , efforts he said align with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, Mezeh highlighted ongoing challenges, including leadership disputes in communities and insider collaboration with vandals, which threaten progress.
On his part, PINL’s Health, Safety, and Environment Manager, Sunday Otoyo, urged community leaders to help stop sabotage, stressing that oil spills devastate water bodies, wetlands, and ecosystems, while creating long-term health and economic risks.
“Protecting these resources is protecting our future,” he stressed.
The stakeholders’ engagement featured contributions from community leaders who welcomed PINL’s openness and impact.
Kennedy West, President of the Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), praised the company’s leadership and urged other surveillance firms to follow its example in engaging communities.
Women Leader of the Igbogene Federated Communities, Mrs. Moke Ossai, commended PINL for including women and youths in its operations, noting that true progress comes from inclusion.
