Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Stakeholders from pipeline and crude oil host communities have called on the Federal Government to expand the surveillance contract of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, citing the company’s role in driving Nigeria’s recent surge in oil and gas production.
PINL, which oversees security operations along the Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP, that traverses Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo, and Abia states, was commended during the September stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Port Harcourt for transforming relations with host communities and curbing vandalism.
The call comes on the back of new data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, which reported that Nigeria’s gas production rose to an average of 7.59 billion standard cubic feet per day in July — an 8.58 percent increase compared to 2024 levels, and nearly 10 percent higher than 2023. NUPRC credited the growth to strengthened facility protection and its drive to meet the nation’s 2030 zero-flare commitment.
Community representatives unanimously urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to broaden the surveillance contract, saying the initiative has proven to be an effective tool for both boosting production and curbing oil theft across the Niger Delta.
President-General of Orashi People’s Congress, Emeni Ibe, said PINL’s presence has restored peace in oil-bearing communities.
“Our area is criss-crossed with several oil pipelines and in the campaign against vandalism, we have agreed to partner with PINL. We are calling on the Federal Government to provide more funds to the company. We are pleased with their trainings and their scholarship for our youths. If these things are done, pipeline vandalism will be a thing of the past,” he said.
Ibe added that the initiative was already shifting local perceptions. “PINL is changing the narratives in our area, so I join others to pass a vote of confidence on PINL,” he declared.
Also, Engr. Orr Sunday Orr, who spoke on behalf of the Ogoni Oil and Gas Host Communities Youths Forum said after painstakingly assessing the operations of the company, they had come to the resolution that they have the right strategy in protecting critical assets in the area.
He acknowledged that PINL’s operations have led to a drastic reduction in cases of pipeline vandalism, oil theft, illegal bunkering, environmental pollution, amongst others.
“With the efforts and commitment of PINL, vandalism, oil theft, illegal bunkering has drastically reduced in Niger Delta region and Ogoni in particular.
“Ogoni Oil and Gas Host Communities Youths Forum is aware of the Federal Government numerous policies and strategies aimed at safeguarding the pipelines, improving the standards of host communities and increasing oil production and as such, we hereby pass a vote of confidence on PINL as the company with the right strategy in securing the TNP in Niger Delta region and Ogoni in particular,” Orr said.
He called on all host communities to embrace and sustain the relationship with the company assuring that, ” Ogoni youths would continue to provide the necessary support and enabling environment to the Office of the National Security Adviser and PINL in our domain”.
However, Ajenkebiokpomaa Orlu from Soku community decried the exclusion of his people from the surveillance framework despite hosting one of Nigeria’s largest gas facilities. “We have been hearing about PINL in Rivers State and other neighboring communities but Soku, as a major player in the oil and gas sector, is not part of their operations. We are supposed to be part of it as a major oil-bearing community with the largest gas plant in West Africa. I’m here to tell the Federal Government, NNPCL, and PINL to include Soku community in their scope of work,” he said.
Speaking on the sidelines, PINL’s General Manager, Community Relations and Stakeholders Engagement, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, acknowledged the concerns and confirmed that the company had already extended some operations to communities outside its original mandate.
“Soku is a major oil and gas host community, and by virtue of the fact that our current contract on TNP does not cover Soku, we’ve been able to cover them based on the limited resources we have. So far we’ve been doing wonderfully well there, courtesy of the support from the community, and there has been no incident of vandalism in Soku,” Mezeh explained.
He added that PINL had already engaged workers from Soku, Tombia, Rumuji, Ogba, Abha, and Gbarain to secure gas pipelines.
“We have expanded our operations into gas and we are into the sixth month, and the results are clear. From the NUPRC report, gas production has increased. Although that’s not our primary area of responsibility, we are doing that as a duty call to support the Federal Government. That’s why we are calling on the Federal Government to formalise the expansion that we are already doing,” he said.
