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Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt 

The federal government has vowed to protect all government assets, including crude oil pipelines across the country, saying that it will not tolerate any form of economic sabotage.

This was the management of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) approved a total of 646 scholarships and other packages for the 215 host communities of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).

The Director of Energy Security in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, who spoke at a meeting convened by PINL in Port Harcourt for Rivers, Abia, and Imo Communities, warned against illegal bunkering activities, emphasising that anyone found guilty of such acts would be prosecuted and imprisoned.

Flag-Amachree, who was represented by Young Harry-Amakiri, revealed that the Office of the National Security Council had already prosecuted over 100 individuals involved in these criminal activities.

He appealed to stakeholders and community leaders to advise their children and youths to desist from vandalism. 

“We want to plead with you to talk to our brothers, we all know these persons involved in these acts. Talk them out of these it would help, because the business is not as usual as before, it has changed.

“As I am talking to you, more than 100 persons have been prosecuted, who you are doesn’t matter, even though you are a general in the army, you are a military personnel, whatever you are, if you are found guilty, you are going in for it,” he warned.

Also speaking, the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri hailed PINL for regular engagement with host communities and discouraging the youths from engaging in illegal bunkering.

The Minister who was represented by his Special Assistant on Host Communities, Julius Eddie, acknowledged that efforts by PINL have boosted oil production in the country and also earned the ministry several high-profile recognitions.

“I want to encourage you, what you are doing for the host communities and the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a win for all of us.

“Today, because of the solutions you have proffered, illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, popularly known as kpofire has tremendously reduced in the region.

“Because of your efforts, today the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, was listed among the team of influential leaders in policy and leadership direction in THISDAY Newspaper and Arise TV.

“I want to encourage and challenge you to continue to discourage the youths from tampering with the pipelines, because in all, we are the victims because the pollution affects the environment and as farmers and fishermen that we are, we are most affected,” he stated

Announcing the scholarship at the meeting, the PINL’s Community Relations Executive, Tarilah Alamieseigha, said the gesture was part of the Corporate Social Responsibility of the company for its host communities.

Noting that the meeting was aimed at reviewing the operations of the company on the TNP, Alamieseigha said there was ongoing strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening community relations, security of the local people and empowering of women.

He added: “I bring good news from PINL. Management has approved a scholarship for three persons per community, bringing the total to 645 persons across the board, and it is to take effect immediately.

“Also, management has partnered with the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, in building a facility to address challenges with regards to investigations and prosecution across the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP. Also, there is a proposal for a skill acquisition designed for women underway”.

He noted that the company’s collaboration with the host communities has led to a significant boost in oil production and called for increased synergy.

“I thank you for this collaborative effort to boost oil production in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With your collaboration and with your effort, we’ve been able to see economic growth in the nation,” he added.

In his remarks, the Head of Field Operations for the Eastern Corridor, Project Monitoring Office at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Engr Akponine Omojevwe, cautioned sub-contractors against connivance and employment of personnel without proper background checks and due diligence.

He called for proper synergy between the subcontractors and PINL to increase the performance rating of the company and to maintain zero tolerance on the TNP.