Communities and stakeholders along the Eastern Gas Network (EGN) have given the Nigeria National Petroleum Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), and
Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) a two-week ultimatum to settle three months outstanding payments to surveillance contractors and guards maning the gas pipelines.
The communities also demanded for inclusion in all corporate social responsibility packages of both companies.
Speaking on behalf of the EGN host communities and stakeholders at a press conference in Port Harcourt, HRH, Eze Peter Wagbara, paramount ruler (Nye Nwe Ali) of Elele-Alimini Community in Rivers State said the communities were concerned that the surveillance contractors and guards have not been paid for three months, adding that this has adversely affected families that depend on the stipends for their survival.
He said the prolonged delay in the payment has created anxiety and dissatisfaction amongst members of the communities.
Wagbara said if the situation persist, it could undermine the goodwill existing between the communities, PINL and NNPCL.
“The surveillance guards have families and responsibilities. They depend on the timely payment of their earnings to meet basic needs, while community stakeholders have continued to support the programme and mobilise their people in the interest of pipeline security.
“The prolonged delay has understandably created anxiety, dissatisfaction, and uncertainty among our people. We are concerned that if this situation persists, it could undermine the goodwill and confidence that have been painstakingly built between the host PINL and NNPCL.”
The monarch emphasized that their ultimatum does not connote a withdrawal of their support for pipeline protection, rather but an appeal for the prompt fulfilment of the obligations that sustain their participation and commitment.
The communities therefore called on PINL and its client, NNPCL, to take immediate steps to reconcile all outstanding obligations and commence payment of the full backlog owed to surveillance contractors, guards, and eligible community stakeholders along the Eastern Gas Pipeline Network.
The host communities demanded that PINL and NNPCL should immediately commence the reconciliation and payment process for all verified outstanding surveillance contractors and guard covering the past three months, all verified and legitimate stakeholder payments due to eligible community representatives along the Eastern Gas Pipeline Network should be paid without further delay.
They also demanded that both organisations should ensure that the payment of surveillance contractors, guards, and eligible stakeholders resumes promptly and is sustained in accordance with agreed contractual and administrative arrangements.
Wagbara added that Eastern Gas Pipeline host communities should be formally considered and integrated into PINL and NNPCL scholarship, youth and women empowerment, and other community development programmes, based on transparent eligibility criteria.
The communities further requested that PINL and NNPCL should engage recognised traditional rulers and community stakeholders to communicate a clear payment schedule, address outstanding concerns, and establish a sustainable mechanism for resolving future disputes.
“We hereby give PINL and NNPCL a two-week grace period from the date of this public statement to resolve the outstanding payment issues and demonstrate concrete action towards the inclusion of our communities in relevant CSR programmes.
“We expect this period to result in meaningful progress, including the settlement of the three-month payment backlog, the resumption of regular payments, and the formal inclusion of our communities’ in the relevant development initiatives, ” the communities stated.
The communities however noted that the operations of PINL has ushered in peace and security in their communities and along the gas lines, adding that their ultimatum is not intended to undermine the operations of PINL or NNPCL, nor its an attempt to discourage investment in their region.
They insisted that their demand is a necessary appeal for fairness, accountability, and the fulfilment of obligations to communities that have embraced the responsibility of protecting critical national infrastructure.
“Our communities have keyed into the vision of community-based pipeline surveillance. Our people understand the strategic importance of the Eastern Gas Pipeline Network to national energy security and economic development, and they have continued to contribute to its protection.
“We remain committed to peaceful engagement and constructive dialogue. However, the patience of our people must not be mistaken for an absence of legitimate concerns.
“Three months of outstanding payments constitute a serious matter that requires urgent attention, ” Wagbara stated.
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