Ogheneruona Tejiri, Warri
Delta State Government has called for sustained pipelines surveillance with a view to have sustained increased in crude oil production.
This call was made by Chief Gritson Omatsuli, Special Adviser to the Delta State Government on Niger Delta Affairs at a press conference convened by Communities Stakeholders Forum to Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited(PINL)in Warri, he described those calling for the cancellation of the pipelines surveillance services as “enemies of the country”.
The thrust of the meeting was to appeal to the federal government to allow the PINL to continue with it’s services of securing the pipelines.
The special adviser appealed to the Federal Government to allow PINL to continue with the good work following it’s outstanding performance in security the national assets.
PINL, a former Ocean Marine Solutions (OMS) 40, 42 and 30 renders various services across the Niger Delta to operators and key players in the oil and gas sector of the economy.
The indigenous company has been operating since 2017 providing security services in the Trans-Forcados, Escravos-Warri and OMS 40 (Trans Benin River-Otumara) crude oil pipelines in Delta.
The former Commissioner, representing Itsekiri ethnic nationality on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) noted that withdrawal of the surveillance services would amount to encouraging criminalities in the Niger Delta.
According to him, withdrawing the services of the surveillance companies will worsen the pipeline vandalism and by implication reduce revenue accruing to the Federal Government.
He noted that the activities of the vandals had seriously impacted on the economy, the ecosystem, health, livelihood and aquatic life in the region.
He added, “those encouraging the Federal Government to shelve pipeline security services are enemies of Nigeria and of course enemies of the Niger Delta region.
“The pipelines transverse the Niger Delta to other parts of the country and outside Nigeria. So, the security of the pipelines belongs to the people of the Niger Delta and they are bound to secure them.
“In the past, the people thought that the pipelines belongs to the Federal Government. Then, they do not know what is government, it was based on that, they keep vandalising the pipelines.
“So, by creating the ample opportunities for the Niger Delta people to see the pipelines as their properties and need to protect them has certainly increase production output and the nation’s revenue.
“Stopping pipeline surveillance will certainly encourage criminalities in the Niger Delta region. So, I want to appeal to the Federal Government to allow the PINL to continue with the good work,” he said.
Omatsuli, however, commended the Federal Government for creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy noting that it would boost the resources of the country.
Also speaking, Mr Canaan Ajagbawa, an opinion leader in Olero Community in Warri North Local Government Area said that oil bunkering activities had reduced drastically in communities following the operations of the PINL.
Accordng to Mr. Ajagbawa, “we are aware that the Federal Government wants to make some changes, the contract is up for review.
“Since PINL came on board in 2017, oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism has reduced greatly in OMS 40, 42 and 30 and crude oil production level increases correspondingly.
“So, we are appealing on behalf of the Olero, Egbokodo, Batan and other over 20, communities the PINL transverses. The Federal Government should allow the company to remain and continue with the good job,” he said.
In same vein, Mr Ibuje Joseph, leader from OMS 30 upland, off Escravos said that peace and crude oil production had increased tremendously in the area since the security outfit came on board.
“You do not change a winning team, since PINL came on board in 2017, peace has improved and crude oil production has risen from 50,000 bpd to about 85,000 bpd in OMS 30 area.
“So federal government should allow the company to continue with the good work,” he said.
On his part, Dr Jeffery Wilkie, Secretary and opinion leader in Olero Community said that the best way to secure pipelines was to involve the communities in the protections.
“The PINL came with a formula to engage the communities in the job. Most of the workers were community-based.
“The private security outfit adopted a robust community relations.Those indulging in illegal bunkering activities have renounced their nefarious act and now involved in the intelligence gathering of the pipelines,” he said
Dr. Wilkie called on the Federal Government to retain the security company as well as increase the funding noting that pipelines is the live-wire of the nation’s economy.
