By Eric Moore
OVER 215 communities on the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) corridor have benefited from the distribution of palliatives by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), to cushion the harsh economy.
The Trans Niger Pipeline corridor involves communities in Abia, Bayelsa, Imo and Rivers States.
The palliatives such as foodstuffs and other household property, were distributed through PINL’s consulting firm, Learn and Leadwise Resources Limited, yesterday
Chief Executive Officer of the consulting firm for PINL, Learn and Leadwise Resources Limited, Deborah Okunbo, explained that the palliatives also serve to appreciate the host communities for their cooperation and also solicit support towards ending pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and oil theft and other vices on the TNP corridor.
She said the palliatives, which are part of the company’s bouquet of corporate social responsibility (CSR) packages, are also meant to cushion the effect of the harsh economic situation in the country on the community people.
Speaking in Saakpenwa, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, during the commencement of the distribution of the palliatives for 35 communities cutting across five LGAs of Gokana, Andoni, Eleme, Bonny and Tai, Okunbo said the initiative would last for a period of nine months.
She said: “We have commenced the sharing of palliatives, food items and other materials to host communities in the Trans Niger Pipeline corridor.
“The purpose of this is to first appreciate the support and cooperation we have enjoyed from the host communities along this axis and also to solicit for more support and effort towards curbing pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.
“Once again, we want to emphasise that the main target of this CSR programme is to give the people a sense of ownership and responsibility to the assets on their land, encourage them to be part of their security and protection thereby eliminating pipeline vandalism, oil theft and kpo-fire in the communities.”
She explained that the company was commissioned by PINL two years ago to carry out needs assessment of the communities which led to the corporate social responsibility packages being rolled out by the company.
She continued: “One of the things that were mentioned are skills acquisition, medical outreach which are in the pipeline. However, PINL decided to start with food distribution in line with the yuletide season, to put smiles on their faces to show that they actually care and appreciate the support from the communities and to ask the communities to take ownership of the pipelines.”
Okunbo also used the medium to charge the community people to always raise the alarm anytime they suspect any strange action around the pipelines in their communities.
The CSR consultant to PINL explained further that since the commencement of operations as the surveillance contractor of the Trans Niger Pipeline about three years ago, the company has adopted a strategy of encouraging pipeline communities to own the pipelines running through their communities to ensure their safety.
She added that the company has engaged the services of youths of host communities at the different levels of the surveillance job and thus creating thousands of employment for youths in the various host communities.
Okunbo stated that other initiatives such as provision of foams and other household materials for those affected by flood, medical outreaches, scholarship and skill acquisition are part of the CSR programme, noting that the modalities for the CSR has been worked out with leaders of the respective communities and their contractors.
Responding, Vice Chairman of Tai Council, Mrs. Barineka Kambe, commended PINL for remembering the community at such a period.
She charged the company to do more in the area of skills acquisition so as to capture more people from the area.
“We thank PINL for remembering our people at a time like this especially those who don’t have what to eat.
“They didn’t look at leaders alone, but called the entire people for this initiative. It shows that the company is concerned about our health.
“We pray that you continue this initiative and do more especially in the area of skills acquisition so that more of our people will benefit,” she stated.
She however, charged chiefs and leaders of the various communities not to take the palliatives for themselves alone but to ensure that it gets to all those who needs them especially the vulnerable ones in their respective communities.
Responding on behalf of the benefitting communities, Emere Akobe appreciated PINL for the gesture and urged them to continue to put them in their plans, so as to maintain the cordial relationship between them and the communities.