Two firms have disagreed on the effectiveness Infrastructure Nigeria Limited of (PINL), contracted to monitor pipelines in south-south.

A group, the Coalition of Organisation for Peace and Development in Niger Delta (COPDIND), had accused the firm of neglecting surveillance jobs awarded to it in Bayelsa and Rivers states, accusing it of a breach of contract.

But a peace advocacy group in the region, Niger Delta Peace Initiative (NDPI) intervened in defence of the firm. NDPI, while frowning on what it described as “concocted blackmail and campaign of calumny” orchestrated by COPDIND against PINL, said the allegations were lacking in truth.

In a statement yesterday, signed by its President, Raphael Ebimobowei, NDPI accused COPDIND of hiding under fake names to disturb the peace of Rivers and Bayelsa States.

“First and foremost, NDPI extols the efforts of PINL in ensuring the safety and security of pipelines under its protection, which saw to the increase in oil production in geometric proportions in the country.

“PINL should be commended for providing the enabling environment that ensured the accommodation and collective participation of all stakeholders in the region, which has brought about the sustained peace enjoyed in the Niger Delta”.

It’s a fact that since after the engagement of PINL, pipeline vandalism and oil theft have drastically reduced to the barest minimum.

“We condemn COPDIND in their unfounded allegations against PINL in a national daily. The signatories to the said publication are embarking on this dastardly act under the fake names, being masterminded and sponsored by miscreants carrying out bunkering activities in the region. We actually know them.” (The Guardian)

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