‘Host communities key to 2mbpd oil target’

The Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has said host communities and stakeholders along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) and Eastern Gas Network (EGN) will play a decisive role in Nigeria’s efforts to achieve its oil and gas production targets for 2027 and 2030. The company said the country’s crude oil and condensate production averaged 1.77 million barrels per day in 2025, the highest in five years, while natural gas production reached 7.2 billion standard cubic feet per day, its highest level in three years. General Manager, Community and Government Relations at PINL, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, stated this during the company’s bimonthly stakeholders’ meeting with TNP host communities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Mezeh said the oil and gas industry was entering a period of renewed growth, stressing that sustaining the momentum would depend on the stability of pipeline networks and stronger cooperation between operators, host communities and other stakeholders. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) is targeting crude oil production of two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million barrels per day by 2030. It also aims to raise natural gas production to 12 billion standard cubic feet daily by 2030. PINL is responsible for the Eastern corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline. Citing NNPC Ltd’s audited 2025 results, Mezeh noted that the national oil company recorded a profit after tax of N7.2 trillion, representing a 33 per cent increase from N5.4 trillion in 2024. He said the production figures underscored the importance of protecting critical pipeline infrastructure and maintaining peaceful relations with host communities. Stakeholders at the meeting commended PINL’s operations and urged the Federal Government to sustain and expand its contract. Head of Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, at the NNPC Project Monitoring Office, Engr. Omojevwhe Akponime, said the company’s daily operational reviews showed that pipeline operations within PINL’s coverage area remained satisfactory. He recalled that PINL’s performance had attracted no adverse questions during a recent NNPC management session, adding that the company was doing well. The Eze Eberi-Ugo Omuma, King Onyekachi Amaonwu, also linked the country’s production ambitions to the cooperation of communities along the pipeline corridors. Similarly, the Eze Ekpeye-Logbo, King Kevin Anugwo, said communities in Ekpeye had returned to farming and fishing following the curbing of crude oil theft along the pipeline. He explained that crude spills and pollution had previously disrupted livelihoods and prevented residents from using their fishing waters. “Before you came on board, we were unable to fish in our waters because the crude oil had taken over the place,” Anugwo said. Meanwhile, spokesperson of the Niger Delta Ethnic Youth Leaders Forum, Engr. Legborsi Yamaabana, thanked the Federal Government for renewing PINL’s contract. He maintained that the renewal was important for sustaining pipeline security, community engagement and improved oil production, adding that opposing voices would not change the region’s position. The stakeholders stressed that sustained collaboration between pipeline operators and host communities remained essential to protecting infrastructure, restoring livelihoods and achieving Nigeria’s production targets.