Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Host communities of the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP, in Rivers, Imo, and Abia states have commended Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, for its surveillance efforts, crediting the company with significantly reducing pipeline vandalism and boosting crude oil production.
This is as the host communities have demanded a greater stake in Nigeria’s oil industry, insisting that local communities should control and benefit from oil resources in their lands.
At a stakeholder engagement forum in Port Harcourt, traditional rulers, youth leaders, and advocacy groups insisted that the Federal Government and oil companies must do more to ensure host communities benefit from the wealth generated.
The Paramount Ruler of Tai Kingdom, King Samuel Nnee, declared that the era of communities being sidelined in oil production must end.
“The time has come for locals to take charge of the oil in their lands. We are asking the Federal Government to give us our pipelines. Let us manage them, extract our oil, and pay royalties. This is our resource, and we must have a direct stake in it,” King Nnee said.
Echoing his sentiment, Dr. Philip Osaro Obele, Paramount Ruler of Eleme Kingdom, warned that continued exclusion of local youths from the oil industry fuels pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.
“Most oil companies refuse to employ our youths, and that’s why they turn to illegal activities. If our people are engaged, security will improve, and there will be no need for endless surveillance contracts,” he stated.
Despite their concerns, the community leaders also praised PINL for its role in eliminating pipeline vandalism since taking over surveillance of the TNP.
Dr. Akpos Mezeh, PINL’s Community Relations Consultant, stated that the company’s success is largely due to strong community collaboration and intelligence sharing.
Mezeh said: “Pipeline surveillance is intelligence-driven, and we rely on the communities for that intelligence. So far, their support has been exceptional. That’s why we are here today—to review our progress and see how we can improve.”
He also disclosed that PINL has implemented corporate social responsibility initiatives in host communities, including health interventions, job creation, and infrastructure projects.
While acknowledging PINL’s impact, Kennedy Tonjo-West, President of the Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND, called out NNPC Limited for failing to outline clear benefits for host communities since the emergence of the Petroleum Industry Act.
West said: “PINL has saved the Federal Government billions of naira through its surveillance work. But how is this benefiting the people whose land the oil is taken from? NNPC must come out and tell us what host communities are getting in return.”
He also challenged communities to remain committed to protecting pipelines but insisted that the Federal Government must honor its obligations to the region.
“We have supported oil production, but we need to see tangible benefits. This is not just about surveillance, it’s about justice for host communities” he stated.
On her part, Chief Patricia Ogbonaya, the Ada Ekpeye-Logbo, urged PINL to ensure that concerns raised at the forum are not ignored.
“This engagement is important, but it must not be a mere talk shop. Host communities need jobs, better healthcare, and infrastructure. The Federal Government must act now,” she stated
Stakeholders at the event agreed that while pipeline security has improved, the next step was ensuring that host communities receive a fair share of the economic benefits from Nigeria’s oil wealth.
