By Dickson Omobola

Pipeline security experts across communities traversing trans-Benin river to Otumara in Delta State have refuted rumours of underperformance levelled against a surveillance outfit, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, saying it is false.

The experts, who urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, not to withdraw the surveillance contract given to the outfit, spoke on a day Delta State Government gave Pipeline Infrastructure its support.

Addressing newsmen in Warri, Delta State, a former Chief Consultant to Delta State Government on Ecology, Dr Hosanna Williams, explained that since the agency commenced work in 2015, vandalism has reduced, leading to increased crude oil production.

Williams said: “I speak authoritatively to back the work that this establishment is doing. This establishment commenced work in 2015; and from 2015 until now, there have been no skirmishes. It sounds absurd to begin to see and ask why this is coming now. As a scientist, I will tell you that the entire attack hinges on envy.

“It is preposterous, it is ludicrous and makes no sense at all. If perforation is occurring anywhere, there is something in the control room that would show deep pressurization, and it has not been like that. I therefore charge the authorities to come and see whether or not there has been perforations or hitches in the centres of operations in the pipeline areas. This is envy and I charge the Federal Government to discountenance whatever is going on and crush any form of allegation.”

Also speaking, Special Adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Griftson Omatsuli, said the income Delta State generates from crude oil has improved due to the work put in by the surveillance outfit, noting that the surveillance outfit’s services should be retained.

He said: “As far as Niger Delta is concerned, Pipeline Infrastructure is working in consonance with the MORE agenda of Delta State Government. If anybody is talking negatively about what they are doing, they are just blabbing. What those people want to do is to truncate the Renewed Hope agenda of the federal government.

“Saboteurs, I beg you to put an end to this because as a result of the enhancement of economic activities in our various pipelines, the revenue base or the income of this state has improved. Today, Delta State is number one, and it is as a result of the total reduction in pipeline vandalisation, the development of our region and peace and security made possible by this establishment.”

On his part, coordinator of Eweregbene community, Chief Sylvester Tiebebedigha, said: “I want to inform the world, Nigeria and Delta State that the relationship our community has with pipeline infrastructure has taken us to the sky. I say this because for so many years the people of Eweregbene were not given any job along that pipeline until this establishment got the surveillance contract. Since then, they have been doing everything to secure these pipelines ensuring that vandals do not damage them.

“If anybody says Pipeline Infrastructure is not working, then the person is not in Delta State. Before they were given the contract, we could not fish on our rivers due to oil spillage. However, Pipeline Infrastructure changed the situation.”