Ogona Anita
Stakeholders in The Four oil bearing oil state In Niger delta have commended Pipeline Infrastructure Limited for their robust Corporate social Responsibilities to their host communities.
Speaking at Stakeholders Engagement held at hotel presidential in port Harcourt well attended by paramount Rulers, Kings, Chiefs, Elders, House of Assembly members, Local govt Chairmen, CDC chairmen, Youth groups, Women Groups, and Government security Agencies and other Concerned stakeholders commended Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited PINL for their cordial working relationships in their various communities, promising to continue to support PINL in helping federal Govt to achieve its crude oil daily production required to keep the Economy positively progressing for the betterment of Nigerians.
In his welcome remarks The Community Relations Consultant, For Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd, PINL, Dr. Akpos Mezeh said the aim of the stakeholders engagement was to thank the communities for their support and also iron out some gray areas that will be covered in their CSR Interventions.- ” We operate in 3 local govt areas in four states, and we provide stipends to community leadership where trans Niger Delta pipelines supplying crude oil to Bonny Terminal is located and ensure we build a formidable relationship with you because we know that without your corporation we won’t achieve the records”
Dr Akpos said PINL recognizes the importance of sustainable economic empowerment in the Niger Delta that is why It has employed thousands of youths from Pipeline-impacted communities as surveillance Guards, nothing that this imitative has significantly reduced unemployment and providing Legitimate source of income for youths who might otherwise be vulnerable to illicit activities
He also highlighted on Palliatives and flood mitigation CSR, and the pivotal role of mediating and resolving disputes between host communities and IOCs
In Their Feedback to Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria limited, Prominent stakeholders Who spoke on behalf of their communities hailed their robust engagement noting that this is the first time, a company will gather them together to give account of stewardship:
The King of Eleme Saro Melle said since PINL entered into my area we have been having good relationships and since they came they have never been any incident of Pipeline problem apart from the one that resulted due to equipment failure and that problem was tackled seamlessly, we have been talking, synergizing but however we want PINL to carry our problems to Abuja, He said we are suffering from This oil pollution, NO GOOD HOSPITAL in Our Communities, We experience ACID RAIN that cause different kinds of sickness as a result of oil activities, You said you have provided surveillance Jobs for our youth How many youths can the surveillance job cater for? the Headquarters of this oil companies are all in LAGOS, they are benefiting more than We that Lays the Golden Egg, because when the effects of this oil comes, it affects us that comes from this area. Our farmland are not Fertile again without the use of fertilizer, no good roads at all. Please PINL See how you can help us, it’s not just ok each time we have Oil flood, you carry Rice to Us, Rice can not solve our problems, Help Us with permanent Solution, GIVE US NET, DON’T GIVE US FISH” He concluded
A Youth social activist Dr Kennedy West also hailed PINL for thus far but hammered on some salient issues, He said the major Issues here is that most communities are not benefiting from the oil derivatives form NNPCL after the PIB was changed PIA , they just hold little meetings here and there and it’s not reflecting on any community The federal govt was quick enough to change NNPC to NNPCL and establish its structure but nothing is being said about the communities. He thanked PINL for saving millions and Billions for the federal govt on daily basis by engaging the communities but clarified that PINL is also a contractor, as such the communities are still losing its benefits from the angle of the NNPCL for the corporation in the increase of oil production to federal government coffers
Dr Kennedy West called on the Federal Government to urgently in form the communities what is in the PIA for them, He thanked the Pipeline Infrastructure nigeria limited for the rigorous work they have done to ensure that they operate cordially with Oil Bearing Communities, they are people friendly and open to discuss CSR, How many companies can do that? we employ the Federal government to come and sit with us on a round table like this and come and tell us what they have been doing with the corporation they have been getting from the Niger Delta
For His Part the Local govt chairman of Ukwa West in Abia state Honorable pastor Dike Nwankwo called for equity, fairness and Justice in dealing with the communities, He condemned actions of some security agencies like The NSCDC who in chasing oil bunkerers in the communities will kill innocent villagers and abandon them to their fate, he said they should stop making the host communities an endangered species, by uncoordinated strikes as most villagers do not have wherewithal to operate Oil bunkering activities but they Always end up as casualties in their farm or their homes. and call for a proper review of security operations in Ukwa West
For her part the Ada Ekpeye Patricia Ogbonnaya Urge the federal Government to urgently do something in the area of Youth unemployments, She said Youth restiveness is as a result of unemployment. and hopelessness. especially to people who see millions and billions of oil explorations are drained from their community and have nothing to show for it. and live in abject poverty. She called on Federal government to look into the issues of ownership of oil wells.
