The Petroleum Industry Bill or PIB had been under review in the National Assembly for nearly two decades, beset by disagreements, including over how much revenue should go to local communities in oil-producing regions. (Photo by Pius Utomi EKPEI / AFP)
The Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) that exploded recently has been restored for operations, as usual supplies to Bonny oil terminal have commenced, an Indigenous pipeline surveillance firm, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), has stated.
According to PINL, the swift intervention was made possible with the cooperation of host communities in the area. PINL’s community relations consultant, Dr. Akpos Meze, stated this in Port Harcourt yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting between the company and TNP host communities in Abia, Imo and Rivers states.
Meze also noted that efforts are on to carry the TNP’s 215 host communities along in their programmes, disclosing that the firm has planned skills acquisition programmes, scholarships and other schemes to equip the youths and sustain them in the communities.
He said: “Based on the needs assessment from various communities, we have skills acquisition, scholarship and other things to equip the youths and sustain them in the communities.
“In the next month, we will deploy our teams to selected points to provide medical outreach to indigent residents who may not have the resources to afford such facilities.
“We are also providing pipe-borne water to some of the host communities. We have already provided such facility for Asarama Community in Andoni Local Council of Rivers State.”
The communities commended the firm for its commitment to securing the pipelines, which are national assets, applauding its engagement pattern with host communities, which has empowered the people, engendering peace.
In his remarks, a traditional ruler, King Philip Obelle, called on the surveillance company to link the host communities to the Federal Government, as they are suffering from the effects of oil exploration in the region.
Obelle, who is the traditional ruler of Eleme Kingdom, said: “I can assure you that since I came in contact with them, they have been interacting with the people.
“We acknowledge the importance of the work they are doing, but we want PINL to carry our problem to Abuja. Our communities are suffering from the effects of oil pollution.
“We have been experiencing different kinds of sicknesses because of oil exploration activities. We experience what they call acid rain, and the top of our buildings are gone.”
On his part, the President of the Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationalities in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Dr. Kennedy West, called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to fulfil its side of the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), as it affects host communities.
