… As firm assures mediation in Ogoniland.
By: Felix Ikpotor
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has affirmed that the collaboration between host communities of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has led to Increasing oil production and contributing to greater revenue for the country.
Engr. Akponime Omojevwhe, Head Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, Project Monitoring Office (PMO NNPCL), stated this during the January stakeholders meeting of host communities organised by PINL in Port Harcourt. The meeting is organised monthly by PINL to get feedbacks from stakeholders and community people regarding their operations in the host communities.
Omojevwhe noted that the communities support has also contributed to the sterling performance of the company in securing the TNP.
The PMO head urged the communities to sustain the effort in ensuring that the company’s projected 2.5m barrels per day production for the year 2026 is achieved.
“The message I was sent is to appreciate the stakeholders for your collaboration with PINL which has shown significant upshoot in the oil production and it has yielded in revenue generation.
“I want to emphasized that this year 2026, we must be able to ensure that it is better than 2025 so that our projection can be met as far as oil production is concerned, ” Omojevwhe said.
Earlier, Dr Akpos Mezeh, General Manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations of PINL said the company has secured assurances from the host communities to ensure that there is no infractions on the TNP.
He added that the company is determined to meet Federal Government’s projected 2.5m barrels per day production, commending the surveillance guards for the effort.
“In this year 2026, we have gotten renewed commitments from the communities to ensure that there is no infraction on the pipelines.
“We are determined to achieve Federal Government’s target of 2.5m barrels per day production, ” he stated.
The PINL official also disclosed of plans to mediate in the talks between the Federal Government and Ogoniland in Rivers State to ensure a smooth resumption of oil exploration in the area.
“Reaching the 2.5m barrels per day target of the Federal Government requires that we need to mediate in any area of conflict in the Niger Delta and the Ogoni area is key. In this 2026, we are determined to strengthen mediation with communities in Ogoniland to ensure that there is resumption of crude oil production in that area, ” he added.
Speaking on some of its strategies to sustain its performance in 2026, Mezeh said the company aims to allign with the efforts of the Federal Government toward meeting the 2.5m bpd production target, sustain zero infractions along the TNP corridor, mediate in conflicts in Ogoniland and other oil producing communities with a view to resuming production.
He also listed expansion of women and youth empowerment programmes, deepening community intelligence and participation, strengthening collaboration with NNPCL, ONSA, and security agencies, advocating for improved government presence and infrastructural development in the oil and gas communities.
The company also promised to uphold transparency, accountability, and consistent engagement to conduct capacity-building training for Community-Based Contractors (CBSs) with focus on incident reporting, event reporting, guard patrol procedures, surveillance and intelligence gathering.
While thanking the company for their support and cooperation, he urged them to continue to choose the part of peace and dialogue in resolving all issues.
On his part, Mr Young-Harry Amachree who represented the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the meeting, assured that all sentiments and opinions expresed by the community people shall be adequately addressed.
In his speech, King of Eleme Kingdom, HRM, Dr Philip Osaro Obele, commended the company for carrying the communities along in its operations. He particularly noted the recent distribution of Christmas palliatives to the communities and surveillance guards along the TNP.
“There is not much to say and talk about but to commend PINL for what they are doing, for carrying every person along. During the festive period, they distributed gifts, rice, beans and other things to the stakeholders.
” Thank you very much, this will make them feel that you recognize them and the work you have assigned to them to do, ” he said.
Also speaking, a community stakeholder and king of Elele-Alimini Community in Emohua local government area of Rivers State, Eze Peter Wagbara noted that PINL has operated with a difference as against the divide and rule pattern he alleged other companies used on host communities.
“They are not dividing our people because, most of the conflicts we see in most communities are sponsored by companies, but so far, I have watched the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, especially in my own domain, there have not been any such thing, ” he stated.
The monarch however, appealed to the company to fast track its women empowerment programmes and scholarship to ensure that all communities benefit.
Speaking on behalf of youths of the area, spokesperson of Niger Delta Ethnic Youth Leaders, Dr Legborsi Yamaabana, pledged the support of youths of the region for the company. He said the company has touched the lives of youths in areas of empowerment and employment, urging the federal government to give more responsibility to the company.
“They are part of us. We have adopted them as individuals of each of our communities across the Niger Delta.We have also adopted them as a special purposed vehicle to bring about peace, development, economic growth and progress.
” Lastly, I want to say that we would continue and sustain the support for this company, and we are appealing further to Mr. President and the government to give this company more responsibility because they are not tired of doing good, ” Yamaabana said.
