By Obiabin Onukwugha
Indegenous firm, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) says it has provided employment and livelihood opportunities for more than 35,000 youths and awarded scholarships worth over ₦2 billion to more than 1,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students in its host communities.
The company also disclosed that it has empowered over 2,000 women through its initiatives along the Trans Niger Pipeline corridor, while maintaining engagement with 215 host communities across its areas of operation.
PINL General Manager, Community and Government Relations, Dr Akpos Mezeh, disclosed this on Friday at the company’s bi-monthly Stakeholders Engagement Forum in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Mezeh said the company’s interventions were part of its efforts to improve livelihoods, strengthen relationships with host communities and protect critical oil and gas infrastructure. He explained that PINL’s surveillance operations had created employment opportunities for thousands of young people, while its scholarship scheme had helped students from host communities pursue higher education.
Dr. Mezeh revealed that the company’s scholarship programme has been approved as an annual intervention for eligible students from the company’s host communities for the duration of its contract with the Federal Government.
“Our surveillance operations provide employment and livelihood opportunities for over 35,000 youths. PINL has also awarded over ₦2 billion in scholarships to more than 1,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students,” he said.
He highlighted that the company had continued to support women, traditional institutions and other community stakeholders through its empowerment programmes, regular engagements and annual Christmas palliative initiative, including Christmas programme covered all 215 host communities, thereby providing food, relief materials and medical outreach during the festive season.
He noted that the interventions reflected the relationship between infrastructure protection, peaceful communities and sustainable development.
“These achievements demonstrate that infrastructure security, community engagement and development are interconnected. We are proud of this progress, but we recognise that there is still more to do,” he said.
Mezeh also reported that no pipeline fracture had been recorded in the company’s areas of operation during the preceding two months, describing the development as evidence of the benefits of cooperation among communities, surveillance personnel, security agencies and operators.
He, however, warned that stakeholders should not become complacent, stressing that the protection of pipelines required continuous vigilance and timely sharing of information. “Our objective remains to progressively reduce pipeline-related incidents and ultimately achieve a zero-incident environment across our operational areas,” he said.
He urged residents of host communities to promptly report suspected pipeline vandalism, illegal connections, crude oil theft and other activities capable of threatening critical infrastructure, stating that the company’s responsibilities extend across Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo and Abia states, covering the Trans Niger Pipeline and Eastern Gas Network.
Mezeh said protecting the facilities was particularly important as Nigeria’s oil and gas industry pursued higher production targets and new investments. He also attributeed the N7.2trillion profit after tax and increased production recently announced by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to the effective operations of PINL in the Trans Niger Pipeline corridors.
He called on host communities to see themselves as partners in safeguarding the infrastructure that supports the nation’s economy, noting that improved production could create more opportunities for employment, skills development and community growth.
“Every pipeline protected is an asset preserved. Every incident prevented is production protected. And every timely piece of intelligence shared can help prevent disruption,” he said.
On environmental responsibility, Mezeh disclosed that PINL had evacuated refuse from identified dump sites at Okoloma-Afam, Obeama, Miriwanyi, Izuoma and Kom-Kom in Zone 3.
He appealed to community members to discourage indiscriminate waste disposal and unauthorised activities along pipeline rights of way, warning that such practices could undermine environmental protection and infrastructure security.
The general manager also called for greater youth participation in discussions surrounding the proposed resumption of oil and gas operations in Ogoniland, particularly activities relating to Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11.
He said young people should be involved in decisions affecting their communities and encouraged youth leaders to pursue peaceful engagement with traditional rulers, government agencies and industry operators, stating, “Youths should be partners in development, not merely observers of development.”
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Addressing concerns over allegations against the company, Mezeh said PINL welcomed legitimate scrutiny of its operations, contractual obligations and expenditure, but called for public discussions to be based on verified information.
“PINL has no objection to legitimate scrutiny. On the contrary, we welcome appropriate oversight by competent government institutions concerning contractual performance, public expenditure and accountability,” he said.
He added that the company was prepared to cooperate with lawful reviews and provide relevant information in line with its contractual and legal obligations.
Mezeh further urged stakeholders to raise grievances through established channels rather than circulate unverified allegations that could create mistrust between communities, government institutions and companies operating in the region.
He reaffirmed PINL’s commitment to regular engagement with traditional rulers, community development committees, youth groups, women leaders and other stakeholders.
According to him, the company’s bi-monthly engagement forum is designed to provide a platform for dialogue, accountability, early warning and the resolution of emerging concerns, adding that sustained cooperation among government, oil and gas operators, host communities and security agencies remained essential to achieving secure pipelines, peaceful communities and sustainable development across the Niger Delta.
In their respective contributions, traditional stakeholders commended PINL for their commitment to creating peaceful environment within the host communities.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of Award to PINL by the Traditional Council of Kegbara-Dere in Gokana local government area of the state.
