Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited ( PINL) has emphasized the crucial roles expected of stakeholders and host communities in ensuring that the Federal Government through the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) achieves its targeted oil production output for 2027 and 2030.
NNPCL has set production targets of 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million barrels per day by 2030, alongside a target of 12 billion standard cubic feet of natural gas production per day by 2030.
PINL however, said to achieve this feat, stakeholders and host of communities along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) and Eastern Gas Network (EGN) have critical roles to play in ensuring that the pipelines and all critical infrastructure within their domain remain safe and secured.
The company gave the charge at its bi-monthly stakeholders meeting with host communities along the TNP in Port Harcourt.
General Manager, Community and Government Relations of PINL, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, at the meeting highlighted the growing production output by NNPCL, attributing it to the safety of the infrastructural networks.
Mezeh noted that Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is entering an important period of renewed growth and opportunity, stressing the need for increased cooperation between the company and all stakeholders in the sector.
He said: “Recently announced 2025 audited results of NNPC Limited provide encouraging evidence of this progress. The Company reported a Profit After Tax of ₦7.2 trillion, representing a 33 percent increase from ₦5.4 trillion recorded in 2024.
“More importantly for our discussion today, crude oil and condensate production averaged 1.77 million barrels per day in 2026, the Company’s highest production level in five years.
“Natural gas production also averaged 7.2 billion standard cubic feet per day, representing a three-year high”.
Meanwhile stakeholders of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) and Eastern Gas Network (EGN) have expressed satisfaction with the operations of PINL asking the Federal Government to sustain and expand its contract.
Leading the charge is the NNPCL which spoke through its Head, Field Operations, Eastern Corridor of Project Monitoring Office (NNPCL-PMO), Engr. Omojevwhe Akponime, saying that the company was satisfied with the operations of PINL so far on its area of coverage.
He said NNPCL’s daily review of activities of PINL showed hat the lines in their areas of operations are showing green- indicating maximum production.
“The NNPCL management in our last meeting, after the presentation by the top NNPCL, when the PMO Command and Control asked questions, they said, “Do we have any question for the asset owner? And the NNPCL management replied ; “There is no question for PINL. They said so because they are doing well.” So the company is doing well, the lines are showing green. They’re showing 90%, ” he stated.
Also speaking, the Eze Eberi-Ugo Omuma, King Onyekachi Amaonwu, urged the company to ignore the negative criticisms and forge ahead with what they are doing to protect pipelines in the Niger Delta region.
He further called for collaboration from all monarchs and stakeholders of the host communities, urging them to give the company the corporation to deliver on their assignment.
“So what I need is collaboration for us to move forward. And that collaboration comes between the traditional rulers and host community. Once we unite, the traditional rulers, host communities and the company, more results will come. “For you to get the target, there is no pipeline in Abuja. It is here, host community. So we have to clap for ourselves as host community, ” he said.
For his part, the Eze Ekpeye-Logbo, King Kevin Anugwo, passed a vote of confidence on PINL on behalf of communities in Ekpeye. He said since PINL started operations, they can now return to their farms and fishing activities.
He said before now, it was difficult for them to engage in their agricultural activities, but said PINL has restored their environment through curbing of pipeline vandalism in the area.
“Before you came on board, we were unable to dry our clothes outside because of soot. Before you came on board, we were sweeping our houses, our rooms, six, ten times a day because of soot. Before you came on board, we were unable to farm our lands because crude oil had taken over our land as a result of theft by all the good boys.
“Before you came on board, we were unable to fish in our watersbecause the crude oil had taken over the place. Since you came on board, all these challenges have been eliminated permanently,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the youths, Engr. Legborsi Yamaabana, Spokesperson of the Niger Delta Ethnic Youth Leaders Forum, said people of the region have adopted PINL as their own.
He said dissenting voices can’t change their stance and further thanked the Federal Government for renewing the operational license of the company.
“I’m appreciating the Federal Government for renewing the contracts of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited.
” I want to also assure the Federal Government that the people of Niger Delta especially the youths, the monarchs, the women, the community leaders, the union leaders, are standing tall and well (with Pipeline Infrastructure in Nigeria Limited.” As Niger Delta people, we all have adopted PINL as, our own, so we don’t need to be talking to ourselves, ” he added.
