April 01, (THEWILL) – Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd, PINL, an indigenous surveillance company operating in the Niger Delta region, has expressed appreciation to host communities for their operations.
The company Director of Community Relations, Dr Akpos Mezeh, gave the commendation during a stakeholders meeting held at the Golden Tulip Resort, Onopa, yenagoa, the state capital.
According to him, the PINL has recorded 100 percent cooperation from communities that covered their operations base in the three LGAs of Ogbia, Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw, respectively.
He said the stakeholders’ meeting was to appraise the company’s efforts towards their corporate social responsibilities and get feedback from stakeholders for them to perform better in the future.
Dr Mezeh stated that some of the activities the company was embarking upon were to improve the living standard of host communities and increase oil output for the federal government. He recalls that in the past, oil operations were shut down, but now we are protecting the facilities.
According to him, the company has continued to reach out to stakeholders, which includes Kings, Local government Chairmen, CDC and women in the various local government areas of their operations.
He also noted that the company offers employment to persons from the areas and also provides monthly stipends to the leaders of their operational areas.
Explaining further, he also said the company was also engaged in dispute resolution between communities and oil companies, adding that their intervention has helped to stop delays in oil production. He also revealed that during the 2022 flood, the company also provided palliatives to affected host communities.
According to him, in the next few months, the company would deploy a medical team to select points for medical outreach for indigent residents who can not afford such facilities. “We are also providing pipe-borne water to some host communities, solar light and renovation of schools.”
He also said that based on the needs assessment from various communities, the company would embark on skill acquisition, scholarship and other incentives to host communities.
In their remarks, HRM King Joshua Igbugbugburu, the Ebenanaowei of the Bomo clan in southern Ijaw LGA and His EMINENCE, Obanobhan of Ogbia Kingdom, King Owaba Dumaro, expressed appreciation to PINL for initiating the stakeholders meeting and urged the youth of host communities to protect oil facilities in their domains.
King Dumaro, in his remarks, bemoaned the underdevelopment of the region, in spite of the discovery of oil in the region for over 70 years without any commensurate development.
Other stakeholders who spoke included Dr T. K.O Ogoriba, IYC President; Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri, INC Vice President; Alabo Nengi James, OON, MOSIEND President; Amb. West, Hon. Frank Otele, SA to the governor on Oil and Gas and Women representative, respectively.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
