Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), yesterday, said it had expanded its operations ‘pro bono’ to include all oil and gas facilities in proximity to the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).

It said that it decided to provide the free services in the interest of national development.

General Manager, Community Relations and Stakeholder Engagement of PINL, Dr Akpos Mezeh, disclosed this while addressing stakeholders from host communities of the TNP in Bayelsa.

He, therefore, called on stakeholders to scale up real-time information around these critical assets for optimum protection.

He also disclosed that following previous meetings, the Biseni community had been included in its operations while plans were on to include other communities from the Sagbama Local Council.

The PINL official said that there was no case of pipeline vandalism in the state and on the entire TNP, attributing the feat to the collaboration between the company, security agents and community stakeholders.

He emphasised that there had been sustained oil and gas production in the eastern corridor, as well as increased host community development trust funding and peace in the communities.

Mezeh informed the stakeholders that the firm’s empowerment for 2,000 women and girls from the host communities under the PINL Women Entrepreneurs & Empowerment Initiative had completed data capturing for host communities in Abia, Imo, Rivers and Bayelsa communities.

He said that the programme focuses on small business development, financial literacy, and skills training for women and girls, adding, “Verification of data is ongoing, and beneficiaries will be contacted shortly”.

However, the President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, in his speech, thanked PINL for recognising the roles of the host communities and the traditional institution in its operations.

The INC leader appreciated the company for its corporate social responsibility packages for the communities and for the regular stakeholders’ engagement towards finding solutions to pipeline vandalism in the area.

On his part, the President of the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, Jonathan Lokpobiri, commended PINL for nipping in the bud most of the problems that have bedevilled communities in the region.

He praised the collaboration between the company and security agencies in addressing issues of environmental devastation.

Also speaking, Chairman of Yenagoa Local Council, Bulodisiye Ndiwari, acknowledged that in the last two months, the area has not recorded any case of oil theft or pipeline vandalism.

He also appreciated the company for building the capacity of the region through its skills and empowerment programmes for youths and women.

Meanwhile, the Project Monitoring Office (PMO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in a goodwill message, assured the company of collaboration in combating pipeline vandalism.