Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, has launched an economic empowerment programme targeting 2,000 women across 215 communities along the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP, in what the company describes as a strategic investment to stabilise the corridor and strengthen commercial activity in host communities.
Positioned as a corporate social responsibility initiative but carrying strong economic and security implications for the oil and gas corridor, the scheme provides business support grants to women across Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia and Imo States.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with Premium Trust Bank, supports women-led microenterprises that form the economic backbone of the TNP host communities.
Speaking in Port Harcourt during the data-capturing exercise for beneficiaries in Rivers, Abia and Imo States, PINL’s General Manager, Community Relations and Stakeholders Engagement, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, said the programme was designed to strengthen community partnerships critical to reducing pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.
“Today is a day set aside by the company to say thank you to the women. The women play a critical role in the fight against pipeline vandalism because our operations are intelligence-driven. The women have supported us in different ways by providing viable information with which we use to wage this war against crude theft,” Mezeh said.
He explained that each of the 215 communities would nominate four women to receive business grants, mentorship and financial literacy support, adding that the initiative runs alongside PINL’s youth-focused scholarship and skills development schemes.
“From every community we are giving business support grants to four women totalling 215 communities. This is to complement the scholarship program and the skill acquisition program that is going on simultaneously,” he said.
Mezeh emphasised that the grants, paid directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, will be monitored by professionals to ensure that the funds translate into sustained enterprise growth.
He added that the scheme has been designed as an annual CSR investment aimed at deepening economic resilience across the TNP corridor.
Mezeh said more women would benefit as the programme scales annually, urging recipients to invest the funds prudently to uplift their businesses and improve household income.
He noted that strengthening women-led enterprises helps stabilise communities and reduces incentives for involvement in oil theft and vandalism.
He reaffirmed PINL’s long-term commitment to investing in communities along the TNP corridor to sustain security, enhance economic development, and protect critical oil and gas infrastructure.
Beneficiaries expressed optimism about the impact of the support on their small businesses.
Francisca Nkechi Okanma from Okohia, Abia State, said the programme would help women expand trade and support their households.
“We have submitted our BVN, account number. Last month we were here for NIN. We’re waiting for them to empower us so that we can make use of the money and help our husbands to train our children,” she said.
For Bridget Nnadiwe from Emohua in Rivers State, the funds could be a gateway to business expansion. “If they give me the money, I’ll leave my kiosk and rent a shop and buy more goods,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Esther Barile from Norkpo Community in Tai LGA, said their community chief relayed the information and oversaw the selection of their four representatives.
