Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, has extended festive goodwill to host communities of the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP, in Imo State, distributing Christmas palliatives and providing free medical services to residents across Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas.
The initiative, conducted under PINL’s Food Bank programme, reached 24 communities, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility and stakeholder engagement.
Dr. Akpos Mezeh, General Manager, Community Relations and Stakeholder Engagement at PINL, said the gesture was in recognition of the communities’ critical role in safeguarding the TNP.
“This is our own way of saying thank you to our communities for a job well done. They have performed commendably in safeguarding oil and gas facilities within their areas, and it is important that this support is recognised,” Dr. Mezeh said.
He further called for continued cooperation, stressing that sustained community support would ensure zero infractions along the pipeline in the coming year.
“We are confident that greater benefits will come to the communities in 2026. We also urge our youths to continue cooperating with us. With sustained support, we will do even more,” he added.
The medical outreach saw more than 1,000 residents benefit from free healthcare services, a number expected to rise as the programme progresses.
Receiving the palliatives on behalf of the communities, the Eze-Obi of Egbema, Barrister Goodhead Ariaga, commended PINL for the timely support and assured the company of continued partnership in protecting the TNP.
“We sincerely thank PINL for coming to meet us in our homes and supporting our people during this festive period. This gesture means a lot to our communities,” the monarch said.
He pledged the communities’ commitment to ensuring the safety and uninterrupted operation of the pipeline, describing it as critical to the nation’s economy.
The monarch also urged other companies operating in the region to emulate PINL’s approach, noting that such initiatives would help reduce youth restiveness and strengthen community-corporate relations.
Items distributed included bags of rice, garri, beans, noodles, cooking oil, and other essential food supplies, reinforcing PINL’s effort to combine social impact with operational security along its critical oil infrastructure.
