The Office of the National Security Adviser ( ONSA) Abuja, has called for collaboration with the stakeholders of various communities of oil areas in order to ensure the protection of oil pipeline from vandalism.
Speaking at the stakeholders engagement with the pipeline infrastructure Nigeria limited in port Harcourt, Director of Energy Security in the office of the National Security Adviser ( ONSA) Hon. Ojukaye Flag Amachree commended the efforts of the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited ( PINL) for a job well done.
Chief Ojukaye Flag Amachree who was represented by Young John Amachree, said that the security of pipeline from vandalism is the business of all and sundry, and thus all hands must be put together to achieve the purpose.
” When there is vandalism, it affects the nation, people must join hands to achieve the noble goal”, he said.
According to him, when the vandals are caught and taken to police, they are released, even as he opined that at the moment, more than 100 suspects have been prosecuted and taken to prison.
He posited that National Security are working day and night to ensure that pipeline is protected and secured.
Earlier in his speech, Consultant, Community Relations of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Dr. Akpos Medee said that the essence of the stakeholders engagement with the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited is to appraise the journey so far by accessing whether the company is making progress or not.
Dr. Medee said that engagement is a collaborative approach to form a united front to tackle pipeline vandalism in the various communities of the oil producing areas.
According to him, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited has recorded a number of successes, which includes, mitigating against pipeline vandals, ensured restoration of Environments destroyed by hazards, achieved near zero infrastructure of the Niger Delta pipeline, which, according to him has boosted investors confidence in the economy with revenue increase.
He further said that the pipeline infrastructure Nigeria limited also motivated surveillance guards through regular and payments of salaries as well as encourage host communities leadership, CDC, Paramount Rulers, Youths and women, in addition to carrying out other social interventions in the communities among others.
According to Medee, part of the stakeholders engagement with the host communities is to discuss and identity challenges in the communities, prosecute suspects ( criminals) in the communities, have Representatives of the National Security Adviser, Address community Leadership disputes.
He used the medium to call for harmony among the various community leaders and for them not to see the position as a do or die affair, noting that in some communities, some Leaders do not respect their Paramount Ruler’s.
In his speech, President, Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality ( MOSIEN) Dr. Kennedy West , Commended the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited for getting it right, especially in the areas of prompt payment to contractors, giving awards to encourage stakeholders, while reiterating his vote of confidence on the pipeline infrastructure Nigeria limited.
Also speaking, HRM, Philip Osaro, Onne -eh commended pipeline infrastructure Nigeria limited for doing something unusual, especially in the areas of communication with the stakeholders and accessibility.
According to the Majesty, the land is made up layers, which one of the layers is the Oil.
He regretted that the continued exploration of the land has caused serious effects on the oil host communities. The degradation of the land, pollution and environmental hazards are seriously effecting the oil host communities.
He noted that no amount of contracts, money or compensation that would bring back the land.
He said, ” the land we are walking on is made up of layers, one of the layers is oil, are they filling it back?, Incase of earth quake, what is the position of the Niger Delta people, what are they doing to fill in the layers, what is the development in the land, what are they benefiting”, Majesty summed up.
The Onne- eh regretted that the oil pollution in Eleme is not cleaned up, in addition to water pollution which the people are suffering from.
