Onyeche Wofurum Igwe
Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has called on communities hosting the Trans Niger Pipeline to take responsibility for protecting national assets located within their areas.
Musa made this appeal at a stakeholders’ meeting organized by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) in Port Harcourt, emphasizing that the effects of oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism are primarily borne by the host communities themselves.
He noted that environmental and health risks from pipeline damage affect locals more than the oil companies operating in the region.
“These assets are on your land. You benefit from them, so you must protect them and safeguard yourselves from the hazards,” he said.
Musa praised PINL for its consistent efforts in securing the assets, particularly its record of zero infractions on the Trans Niger pipelines.
Akpos Mezeh, PINL’s community relations consultant, urged host communities to collaborate in tackling security challenges in the Niger Delta, noting that PINL had expanded its mandate to include the security of all oil and gas infrastructure in the Eastern Corridor, including gas pipelines.
Mezeh credited the host community’s cooperation for the near-zero incidents over the past month.
However, he identified ongoing issues, including poor information sharing, threats to surveillance guards, stakeholder collusion, and leadership disputes, adding that these challenges need to be addressed to ensure the security of the pipelines.
Keynote speaker, Otoyo Sunday, discussed the serious health implications of gas flaring and urged people to view the environment as living, condemning gas flaring caused by well testing, pressure releases, and illegal refining activities.
Datolu Sokubo, chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council, eastern zone, emphasized the need for a balanced focus on security and human development.
“You can’t protect pipelines without addressing people’s welfare. Without our cooperation, infrastructure is never truly secure,” he said.
He urged the federal government to prioritize development, especially in education and healthcare, across the region.
The traditional ruler of Ekpeye Land, Eze Kelvin Anugwu, called on oil companies to end gas flaring immediately, urging PINL to raise awareness of the health and environmental concerns of the communities.
“We keep advising our youths against bunkering. But oil firms must take responsibility for the long-term effects of their operations,” he stated.
