Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Amid rising threats of pipeline vandalism and recent blasts on the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP in Ogoni, the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, has scheduled a high-stakes stakeholders’ engagement with host communities and key political actors.
The meeting, which will be held in Port Harcourt on March 31 and Yenagoa on April 1, is aimed at preventing further sabotage of the critical oil infrastructure, ensuring stability, and boosting Nigeria’s crude oil output.
Dr. Akpos Meze, Community Relations Consultant for PINL, told journalists in Port Harcourt that the engagement follows previous sensitization efforts across 215 host communities, designed to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for the national asset.
The urgency of the meeting comes in the wake of the recent pipeline explosion in Bodo, Gokana LGA of Rivers State—an incident that Meze described as “a clear case of sabotage.”
“There is an impression that the recent blast on the Trans Niger Pipeline under our management could have been avoided. So, what we intend to do at this stakeholders’ meeting is to bring together community leaders, government representatives, and all key actors to take decisive steps to forestall further infractions.”
Meze further revealed that top political figures from Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo, and Abia states would be part of the meeting. According to him, the political crisis in Rivers State has been linked to increased cases of pipeline vandalism, raising concerns that political instability could undermine efforts to protect vital oil infrastructure.
“PINL is not partisan. Our focus is on securing this pipeline, ensuring greater crude oil output, and ultimately improving Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product. If we don’t act fast, continued attacks on the pipeline will hurt national revenue and local economies.”
Despite the recent disruption, Meze confirmed that PINL has fully restored operations on the TNP.
“The Trans Niger Pipeline is now working at 100% output. For a long time before this recent incident, we maintained zero infractions on the pipeline. We want to return to that status immediately.”
Beyond pipeline security, Meze reiterated PINL’s commitment to corporate social responsibility in host communities.
“Since inception, PINL has consistently supported host communities, including providing relief materials for flood victims in Bayelsa State after the 2022 floods and distributing palliatives to all host communities last December.”
