The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa has called on host communities of the Trans Niger Pipeline to take ownership of the national assets situated in their areas and ensure that they collectively safeguard the same.
General Musa, who was represented by Navy Captain Lassie Ozovehe, stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State during the monthly stakeholders’ engagement hosted by the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), which is in charge of the maintenance of the Trans Niger Pipeline.
The CDS warned that the consequences of illicit activities, such as oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism were most deeply felt by the communities themselves.
He said, “If you break a pipeline, the environmental and health hazards will affect the community more than the oil companies.”
In his welcome address, PINL’s General Manager, Community Relations and Development Consultant, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, said the prosecution and conviction of 120 pipeline vandals and oil thieves in the Niger Delta region by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) have led to further reduction of illegal bunkering activities in the region.
Mezeh stated that in line with the firm’s core mission of securing the Eastern Corridor pipelines, PINL has recorded near-zero incidents in the past month.
He further stated that the outstanding result speaks volumes about the strength of the firm’s collaboration with host communities and the commitment of its teams on the ground.
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