Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited has begun a new empowerment programme targeted at 2000 women living in communities along the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline. The initiative is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility and is designed to support small scale businesses in Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia and Imo States. According to the company, women from 215 host communities on the pipeline route will receive business support to help them grow their enterprises and strengthen local economic activities.
The initiative, known as the PINL Women Employment and Empowerment Scheme, is being carried out in partnership with Premium Trust Bank. During a data capturing exercise held in Port Harcourt for beneficiaries from Rivers, Abia and Imo States, the General Manager, Community Relations and Stakeholders Engagement of PINL, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, explained that the programme is also a way of recognising the role women have played in reducing pipeline vandalism. He said the company relies on intelligence from communities, and women have consistently provided credible information that helps in tackling crude oil theft.
Mezeh noted that four women from each of the 215 communities will benefit from the business support grants. He added that the empowerment includes mentorship for sustainability and will run alongside the skills training programme and scholarship scheme already offered to youths. “Today is a day set aside by the company to say thank you to the women. The women play a critical role in the fight against pipeline vandalism because our operations are intelligence driven. The women have supported us in different ways by providing viable information with which we use to wage this war against crude theft,” he said.
He further explained that the business grants will be paid directly into the bank accounts of the selected beneficiaries. According to him, the empowerment will be an annual CSR project, and professionals have been engaged to monitor the women’s progress and provide financial literacy training to ensure long-term impact.
One of the beneficiaries, Francisca Nkechi Okanma from Okohia in Abia State, expressed optimism about the support. She said they had already completed the required verification processes. “We have submitted our BVN, account number. Last month we were here for NIN. We came back for verification to be sure that the details we submitted are ours. So we have submitted everything and we’re waiting for them to empower us so that we can make use of the money and help our husbands to train our children,” she stated.
Another beneficiary, Bridget Nnadiwe from Mmabele Autonomous Community Ahead East in Rivers State, said she hopes to expand her business. “If they give me the money, I’ll leave my kiosk and rent a shop and buy more goods,” she said.
For Esther Step from Norkpo Community in Tai LGA of Rivers State, the selection was done through their community leaders. She confirmed that four women were chosen to represent their area in the programme.
Mezeh said more women from all 215 communities will continue to benefit annually. He urged beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly to strengthen their businesses and improve their living standards, while reaffirming PINL’s commitment to supporting host communities and discouraging oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
