*Warns Contractors
Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has disclosed that two tankers attempting to illegally load crude oil were intercepted along the Atali axis of the Trans Niger Pipeline corridor, as it warned contractors and surveillance operatives against negligence and complicity in oil theft across Rivers and Bayelsa States.
The company’s General Manager, Community and Stakeholder Relations, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, said the operation was successfully foiled through the deployment of an effective backup intelligence system.
He noted that preliminary investigations suggest a possible coordinated effort involving insiders, stressing that those found culpable would face strict legal consequences
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“Recently, at Atali axis — Zone 4, two tankers were intercepted while attempting to load crude. It was only through the effectiveness of our backup intelligence system that this operation was foiled; otherwise, those trucks would have successfully loaded,” Mezeh said.
He added that the incident underscores the need for heightened vigilance among contractors operating within the pipeline corridor spanning Rivers State and Bayelsa State.
According to him, PINL maintains zero tolerance for negligence, sabotage, or collusion, warning that any contractor found wanting would not only lose their contract but also be prosecuted.
“Let me be clear once investigations are concluded, everyone found culpable will be brought to justice. No one will be spared,” he said.
The warning comes amid renewed efforts to curb crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, with stakeholders emphasizing the critical role of community-based surveillance in safeguarding national assets.
