Omiete Blessing
About 35 host communities of Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Rivers State, have lauded the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) for distributing palliatives, including foods and other items to them ahead of the Christmas celebration.
The communities made the commendation yesterday, at Saakpenwa, Tai Local Government Area, where the distribution of the palliatives was made to the communities selected from Bonny, Gokana Andoni, Eleme and Tai.LGA of the state.
Speaking with Journalists earlier in Port Harcourt, PINL through its consultant, Learn & Leadwise Resources Limited, explained that the gesture which will be held across 219 communities of Bayelsa, Imo and Rivers States is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the host oil pipeline communities.
The Chief Executive Officer of Learn & Leadwise Resources Limited, Miss Deborah Okunbo said three years after commencement of operations as surveillance contractor on the TNP, PINL has sustained a robust relationship with the communities which has ensured safety of the pipelines.
Okunbo disclosed that the surveillance firm engages in the employment of youths of the host communities at the different levels of the surveillance job thus creating thousands of employment opportunities for youths in the various host communities.
She said “In addition the company has maintained a constant interaction with paramount rulers, chiefs, community development committee (CDC ) chairmen, youths and women leaders to strategies with them on the fight against pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and illegal refining (Kpo fire).
“Recently the company embarked on the biometrics capturing of these community leaders to update the database and ensure that no community leaders are left behind in its community relations and empowerment programme.
“PINL as a responsible and caring company always comes handy at times of disasters to provide succour and comfort to affected host communities. During the recent flood experienced across some communities, the company reached out with relief materials to affected communities to assist their recovery and healing process.
“Needless to say, this strategy has yielded results shown by the drastic reduction in the frequency of pipeline infractions and other nefarious activities of crude oil theft and Kpo fire across its various host communities”.
She explained that the goal of PINL is to give the community’s sense of ownership of the pipelines in order to end infractions on the pipelines, further increase daily production and ultimately improve the economy for the benefit of the entire country and citizens.
Speaking further on the palliatives, Okunbo “Today, we are in Tai local government, we are meeting here to serve Eleme, Gokana, Tai and Bonny communities. All the communities in that particular axis are meeting us at Tai LGA today. We are giving out bags of rice, beans, garri and biscuit for the children because of the yuletide season.
For the flood affected communities, we have relief materials and other palliatives that are not just food, which include; mattresses, blankets, additional foods; like salt, vegetable oil, Indomie noodles to cushion the effects of the flood on those communities”.
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of Tai Council, Mrs Barineka Kambe, has commended PINL for remembering the community at such a period. She charged the company to do more in the area of skills acquisition so as to capture more people from the area.
“They didn’t look at leaders alone but called the entire people for this initiative. It shows that the company is concerned about our health. We pray that you continue this initiative and do more especially in the area of skills acquisition so that more of our people will benefit,” she stated.
Responding on behalf of the benefiting communities, Emere Akobe while appreciating PINL for the gesture, urged them to continue to put them in their plans so as to maintain the cordial relationship between them and the communities.