Communities Should Be Active in Security Matters, Says General Musa
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has emphasized the importance of community ownership and participation in the protection of national oil assets, warning that the consequences of oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism are borne most heavily by the communities themselves.
General Musa made this known during the monthly stakeholders’ engagement organized by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He was represented at the event by Navy Captain Lassie Audi Ozovehe.
“If you break a pipeline, the environmental and health hazards will affect the community more than the oil companies,” the CDS stated. “These assets are on your land. You benefit from them so you must protect them.”
General Musa called on host communities along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) to take greater responsibility in safeguarding critical infrastructure within their areas, warning against continued acts of sabotage.
He commended PINL for maintaining a record of zero infractions on the TNP, describing the company’s achievement in pipeline security as “commendable.”
Also speaking at the event, Dr Akpos Mezeh, General Manager of Community and Stakeholder Relations at PINL, announced that the company’s surveillance scope had expanded beyond the TNP to include gas infrastructure and all national oil and gas assets within Nigeria’s Eastern Corridor.
“This expansion reflects the trust placed in us by the authorities,” Mezeh stated. “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 noted that PINL’s operations are anchored on prompt salary payments, personnel safety, and efficient conflict resolution, which have helped minimize operational downtime and build community trust.
While highlighting steady progress, Mezeh acknowledged existing challenges, including intelligence gaps, threats to surveillance teams, and local leadership disputes in host communities.
He reaffirmed PINL’s alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reiterated the company’s commitment to the sustainable development of host communities.
Traditional rulers and community representatives present at the engagement praised PINL’s impact but urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other stakeholders to better address the socioeconomic needs of oil-producing communities.
Prince Datolu Sokubo, Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (Eastern Zone), stressed the importance of balancing infrastructure security with human welfare.
“You can’t protect the pipeline without prioritising the people. Without our cooperation, no infrastructure is truly safe,” he said.
Echoing the concern, Mene Suanu Timothy Baridam, Chairman of the Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, lamented the worsening poverty and hunger in the region caused by environmental degradation linked to pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.
Dr Patricia Ogbonnaya, Ada Ekpeye-Logbo of the Ekpeye Kingdom, appealed to international oil companies (IOCs) to cease gas flaring and called on PINL to amplify the health and environmental concerns raised by local communities.
“We’re committed to ending illegal bunkering,” she said. “But oil companies must also take responsibility for the long-term impact of their operations.”
The engagement ended with a renewed pledge from PINL and host communities to deepen collaboration, enhance surveillance efforts, and work together for peace, development, and environmental sustainability in the Niger Delta region.
