By Samuel Oyadongha,  Yenagoa

Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, the surveillance firm in charge of pipeline security in the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), says its operations have positively impacted the Niger Delta by reducing pipeline vandalism, a major contributor to the pollution of the region’s environment.

The Community Relations Consultant of PINL, Dr Akpos Mezeh, stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Yenagoa to assess the performance of the company’s operations in Bayelsa communities.

Mezeh recalled that before the company was contracted to secure the pipelines three years ago, the Niger Delta environment was filled with soot caused by the activities of illegal refinery operators

He said through regular effective surveillance and regular engagement with the communities, the atmosphere has been remediated to a great extent as well as near zero infractions on the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP, leading to increase in crude oil production and the country’s revenue.

Mezeh said: “Collectively,  we have been able to achieve near zero infractions on the pipelines that we have been mandated to secure and the implication is that we are experiencing uninterrupted operations in the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP, crude oil production from the fields are flowing without interruption.

“Secondly, we use to experience soot. If you dry your clothes, the next day the colours have changed and of course we are all witnesses that the situation has changed for better and that goes to show that our environment is now enjoying some level of restoration. Our environmentalist here can confirm that we are making good progress.”

He added that the company’s operations have restored confidence of investors in the economy.

“We have experienced increase in crude oil production and the implication is that we are making oil revenue available for the Federal Government and that would go a long way to restore confidence of investors in our economy,” he said.

Highlighting other activities of the company in the areas which includes building peace in the communities, supporting community stakeholders, he assured that the company would continue to inspire hope in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.

He, however, lamented what he described as instability in most communities and stakeholders’ connivance as some of the challenges facing the company’s operations in the communities.

In a presentation on the impacts of oil spillage on the environment, the Manager, Health, Safety and Environment, HSE, of PINL, Sunday Otoyo called on the community stakeholders to discourage their children and constituents from vandalizing  the pipelines citing environmental degradation, health challenges and other impacts as consequences.

“Oil spillage possess a significant environmental threat, harming marine life, disrupting ecosystems, and damaging human health and economic activities,” he explained.

In his goodwill message, one of the stakeholders and President of Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND, Comrade Kennedy West lauded the company for showing exemplary leadership by submitting itself for assessment by community stakeholders.

He called on other surveillance companies operating in the region to emulate PINL and create a better working relationship with host communities.