Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — For the first time in years, Nigeria has met its oil and gas sector revenue benchmark, a feat the Federal Government says is driven by unprecedented peace in the Niger Delta and coordinated security operations against crude theft.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, confirmed the milestone on Wednesday, attributing it to joint efforts by the Armed Forces, security agencies, and pipeline surveillance contractors like Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL.
FIRS Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, told military leaders led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, that improved security had boosted oil output and profitability.
“For the first time in a long while, we met our oil and gas target. This is the direct result of the peace that has been maintained where oil and gas facilities are located. Prosperity can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace. The Armed Forces are critical stakeholders in sustaining it.”
In Port Harcourt, PINL’s General Manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, said the company’s zero-infringement record last month significantly lifted national production.
“Our partnership with host communities, combined with proven strategies like timely salary payments, rapid dispute resolution, and safety measures, has reduced downtime and built trust,” Mezeh stated.
Mezeh also disclosed recent crackdowns, including the discovery of two illegal refining sites in Oyigbo, Rivers State, hidden behind a logistics company and a piggery.
He said the joint PINL-Special Prosecution Task Force SPT, raids led to arrests, seizure of 60,000 litres of stolen crude, and confiscation of refining equipment.
CSP Omar Sini, SPT’s Head of Investigation, confirmed that PINL-provided intelligence was key.
“The piggery’s location was so remote it took drone surveillance to find it. We’ve arrested three suspects and have 38 active cases in court,” Sini said.
NNPCL’s Head of Eastern Corridor Operations, Engr. Akponine Omojevwe, urged communities to sustain the gains: “PINL has gone the extra mile, approving scholarships and supporting local development. In securing pipelines, we must protect their efforts, not destroy them.”
With the 2025 revenue target already met, the Federal Government says it intends to keep the pressure on oil thieves and sustain investor confidence in the sector.
