Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited’s (PINL) vital role in enhancing Nigeria’s pipeline security, safeguarding critical national assets have been lauded by several prominent Niger Delta Activists, Community Leaders and Stakeholders.
At a virtual citizens conversation with theme ‘Pipeline Security Operations in the Niger Delta and beyond: Evaluating the role and impact of PINL in advancing the greater good, community and citizens engagement.’ held on Sunday evening, organised by Civicist Rex Anighoro, the Executive Director of the Advocates of the Global Goals and Citizens Greater Good Initiative (AGGCGGI) which had participants and speakers across the Nigerian Nation and abroad, PINL received encomium for its robust and innovative citizens engagement and it’s bottom to top leadership approach which has given the people of the Niger Delta a sense of belonging and pride of place.
Speaking at the webinar, High Chief (Dr.) Nengi James – Eriworio who is the National Vice President 2 of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) the apex Ijaw group and a frontline leader at the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) stated that PINL has demonstrated commitment in reaching out to the people at the grassroots, offering new hope in the region urging them to continually make the difference and also give shadow leaders a more sense of belonging in its operations, he stated that Private Pipeline Security which is very legitimate and in tandem with global best practices has become bettered by the good works of PINL in the Niger Delta Region.
Making his presentation at the virtual citizens conversation, a very prominent activist and senior citizen, Comrade Morris Alagoa who is a former head of Environmental Rights Action (ERA) and Friends of the Earth Bayelsa State, disclosed that he is one of the beneficiaries of the goodwill and humanitarian initiatives of PINL.
He averred that PINL is a citizen friendly pipeline security group that have continued to empower communities and engage citizens, recognising the elderly and senior citizens while delivering on its mandate through increased collaboration with the people.
In his assertion, Morris Alagoa, who called for a holistic clean up of the Niger Delta tributaries that it was long overdue, decried the devastation of our environment through bunkering activities in the region and also the actions of some Pipeline security firms that further pollute and destroy the environment while dealing with bunkering activities.
The renowned Environmental Rights activist bemoaned the hostility of some pipeline security firms who instead of engaging with stakeholders, choose to impose their will on the people and even get confrontational with those who try to share alternative thoughts with them on their operations, noting that he has been a victim of such needless threats and hostility.
“When I travel from Warri to Oporoza or I travel within Bayelsa state, my eyes are always on the roots of the mangroves and I have come to realize, and observe that the oysters that normally cling to the roots of the mangroves have all been wiped out completely… our people have been shortchanged quite a lot, and there is need for the Niger Delta wider cleanup for the good of our people.” he declared.
Speaking from the United States of America, Gréen Activist Harrison Agboro, the Executive Director of Greenspere Environmental and Community Development Initiative and Graduate Teaching Assistant Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, CT. USA called for greater climate action initiatives in the Niger Delta, he decried the pollution of our environment, he called on the pipeline security firms not to further destroy the environment in the name of combating bunkering setting ablaze vessels and crude noting this was counter productive to the environment as already started by Comrade Morris Alagoa.
He called for the greater localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), hailing PINL for its efforts and environmental friendly approach in combating bunkering and pipeline vandalization.
He urged PINL to support organisations like Civicist Rex Anighoro’s Advocates of the Global Goals and Citizens Greater Good Initiative (AGGCGGI) in advancing Citizens Engagement, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Climate Action, noting that Civicist Rex Anighoro attendance of COP27 In Egypt and COP28 in Dubai and more international foras has been very fruitful in advancing Civic Advocacy for Climate Action.
Furthermore, Comrade Ikuritie Barifagha David, a rights activist and Global Secretary of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Front (NDPSF) lauded PINL for deepening local content and the pursuit of citizens empowerment and community participation in pipeline security. He called for closer collaboration between the local people in the communities in pipeline security, noting that the people in the communities must know their place and roles in protection of the pipelines and what is their benefits also. He gave kudos to PINL whom he stated were already on the right track in strengthening local content and must continue to expand it.
Also speaking at the webinar organised by Civicist Rex Anighoro, Deacon Shola Mese, the Executive Director of Shola Mese Foundation (SMF), a security expert and founder of the FBI security group stated that PINL is second to none in Nigeria as it has increased community collaborations and citizens empowerment, significantly reducing community and pipeline security firms infightings and frictions.
He stated that the philanthropic and humanitarian engagements of PINL were enormous, giving succour to the downtrodden and sustainable livelihood to the people in the communities, Deacon Shola Mese avered that PINL is not involved in deceit, needless propaganda and media razzmatazz that ostracizes the citizens and people in the communities for the benefit of a few elites but that PINL is a citizen-centric group that gives recognition to all persons and have now set new standards in pipeline security, making the difference, touching lives.
He assured participants at the webinar that PINL will do more to advance the greater good of the people as it recognizes that the office of the citizen is supreme.
Another speaker Comrade Ambrose Egbe, the Secretary of the Delta State Civil Society Actors Community Initiative (DSCSACI), thanked PINL for engaging with the Civil Society and urged them to do more, he stated that the Civil Society have so much role to play in advancing pipeline security in the region, from capacity building, conflict resolution, advocacy and more, he urged PINL to continue the good work of ensuring no one is left behind.
On its on part, Comrade Ochuko Jude O’ ruemu, an ex official of the Delta State Civic Engagement and Civil Society Volunteers, highlighted the roles social media engagers, influencers and volunteers can play in advancing pipeline security which include awareness creation, fostering environmental stewardship, promotion of citizens watch activities and more.
Other speakers, contributors and participants at the webinar are Elder Emmanuel Anderson Ogan, Deacon Okezi Odugala, Comrade Hephzibah Suobo, Dr Eris Ibi Jewo, Comrade Edmund Atakhurhievwe, Comrade Venture Evwerhamre and more.