It was the turn of Owaza, Ukwa West local government area, Abia State and some others communities in Rivers State on Sunday to enjoy Christmas palliatives from Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL).
PINL, the private security company in charge of securing the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipelines (TNP), in continuation of its annual Christmas outreach took food materials and medical outreach to the communities to appreciate them for cooperation through 2025.
Making the presentation to the communities at a primary school in Owaza, PINL called for more collaboration from the host communities.
Ebikeme Andrew, Head, Community Relations, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd (PINL), while making the presentation on behalf of the company, acknowledged the support from its host communities but urged them to double their efforts in the year 2026.
Ebikeme charged the communities to continue in their effort to ensure that there is no infractions on the lines in the coming year.
He explained that the company decided to embark on the initiative as a way of appreciating the communities for the outgoing year and to forge stronger working relationship.
“As a way of saying thank you, we decided to come and share these palliatives to the communities. And like Oliver Twist to also ask for more support.
“As you have supported us in 2025, we want to say come 2026, we need to do more in that regard. Tell your youths, tell everyone in your community that the time of oil bunkering is over. This is the time to join hands with the government to stop all forms of criminality along the TNP.
“So I want to urge you that come 2026 double up your efforts in supporting us while we will also double our efforts in bringing out programmes that will be for the benefit of everyone in these communities,” he stated.
He also used the opportunity to announce to the people of the free medical services going on simultaneously with the distribution of the palliatives.
He stated that the company came with sufficient personnel to attend to the healthcare needs of the people.
Responding after the handover of items, Chief Maxwell Chibuzor Nwagbara, traditional Prime Minister of Owaza community expresed satisfaction that the company was reaching out to host communities in this Yelutide season.
“It is good to always make your host community happy. This is festive period and it’s important that each family have something to eat. And when some one eats, he won’t think of evil. So it’s good that PINL is doing this to make sure that they sustain their relationship with the communities, ” the monarch stated.
Chief Nwagbara used the medium to call on the Federal Government to expand the services of PINL citing their harmonious relationship with host communities and operational capability which he said has led to increase in oil production on the TNP.
“PINL have what it takes to continue with this job because other companies who have been operating here don’t have relationship with the communities. They have not been able to do what PINL is doing because with what they are doing oil production output will keep increasing thats why I say Federal Government should elongate their services so that more communities will benefit,” he added.
He restated the willingness of the community to give further support and partnership for the company’s operations.
