The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has urged host communities and stakeholders in the Niger Delta to support Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), the firm contracted to secure the Eastern Corridor, including the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).

Speaking at PINL’s August stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa on Friday, INC President, Professor Benjamin Okaba, commended the company for maintaining a zero-infraction record on the TNP over the past month and for sustained engagement with host communities.

“PINL has shown they are one of us. They are not outsiders. The fact that they have recorded zero infractions shows they are doing well. They may not be perfect, but there are clear signals they are ready to do better and carry everybody along. I urge our youths to stay patient, avoid vandalism, and take advantage of the livelihood packages provided,” Okaba said.

Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, represented by an Assistant Police Commissioner, disclosed that drone technology has been deployed to monitor pipelines and track vandals. “We have set up aerial surveillance using drone technology, which can also be used in tracking pipeline vandalism,” he noted.

Chairman of the House Committee on Youths in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Tari Porri, reminded stakeholders that the Ijaw struggle paved the way for surveillance firms like PINL. “If oil companies in the region had been as responsive as PINL, there would have been no need for agitation leading to vandalism,” he said.

Former lawmaker, Mrs. Ingo Iwowari, praised PINL’s inclusion of women in empowerment programmes, describing it as key to long-term security. “Pipeline vandalism is more than a security challenge; it’s a community crisis. Ignoring women is ignoring half the solution,” she said.

Engineer Akponine Omojevwe, Head of Field Operations for the Eastern Corridor under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Project Monitoring Office, credited the improved security to strong collaboration between PINL and local leaders. “For the last month, there were no infractions, which makes our work easier. This is the result of fantastic collaboration between the company and the communities,” he stated.

Dr. Akpos Mezeh, General Manager of Community and Stakeholders Relations at PINL, said the zero-infraction record on the TNP has boosted national oil revenue. “The Federal Inland Revenue Service recently confirmed Nigeria achieved its 2025 oil revenue benchmark for the first time in years, attributing part of the success to surveillance companies like PINL,” he revealed.

Mezeh also outlined PINL’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, including scholarships across 215 host communities and training programmes for women, stressing that community empowerment is central to sustainable pipeline security.

“We remain committed to sustainable energy security in the Niger Delta and call on all stakeholders to work with us to protect these critical national assets,” he added.