General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has stated that community ownership of national assets is vital for protecting oil facilities.
Represented by Navy Captain Lassie Audi Ozovehe, General Musa called on host communities of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) to take responsibility for the oil facilities in their area.
He warned that the effects of oil theft and pipeline vandalism are heavily felt by local communities and urged them to avoid such practices.
“If you break a pipeline, the environmental and health hazards will affect the community more than the oil companies,” he said. “These assets are on your land. You benefit from them, so you must protect them.
The CDS lauded PINL for its continued efforts in pipeline security, particularly its record of zero infractions on the TNP, describing the company’s achievement as commendable.
Speaking at the engagement, General Manager, Community and Stakeholder Relations for PINL, Dr Akpos Mezeh, announced that the company’s surveillance responsibilities have been expanded beyond the TNP to cover gas infrastructure and all national oil and gas assets within the Eastern Corridor.
“This expansion reflects the trust placed in us by the authorities,” Mezeh said. “Our success on the TNP is a direct result of strong collaboration with host communities, consistent operational strategy, and the commitment of our teams on the ground.”
He added that PINL was grounded in timely salary payments, safety of personnel, and swift dispute resolution, which has helped reduce downtime and increased stakeholder trust.
While noting steady progress, Mezeh acknowledged the challenges still being faced, including intelligence gaps, threats to surveillance teams, and internal community leadership disputes.
