Nigeria’s ambitious plans to hit three million barrel of crude oil production per day (3mbpd) by 2030 will be possible with full integration of host communities in the plan, so say experts from the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL).
The company held meetings with host communities in Port Harcourt and other centres for the month of October 2026.
PINL officials insisted that host communities and stakeholders along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) and the Eastern Gas Network (EGN) would play a decisive role in whether Nigeria meets its oil and gas production targets for 2027 and 2030.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) is targeting crude oil production of 2 million barrels per day (2mbpd) by 2027 and 3 mbpd by 2030. It is also aiming for 12 billion standard cubic feet of natural gas per day by 2030.
PINL is the integrated pipeline infrastructure company responsible for the Eastern corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline. The company made the case at its bimonthly stakeholders meeting with TNP host communities in Port Harcourt.
Akpos Mezeh, General Manager, Community and Government Relations, said the industry is entering a period of renewed growth. He linked rising output in part to the stability of the pipeline networks that carry it. Meeting the targets, he said, will depend on closer cooperation between the company, host communities and every stakeholder along the corridors.
He pointed to NNPC Ltd’s recently released audited results for 2025. The company reported a profit after tax of ₦7.2 trillion, up 33% from ₦5.4 trillion in 2024.
“More importantly for our discussion today, crude oil and condensate production averaged 1.77 million barrels per day in 2025, the company’s highest production level in five years,” he said.
Natural gas production averaged 7.2 billion standard cubic feet per day, the highest in three years, according to records.
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed satisfaction with PINL’s operations. They urged the Federal Government to sustain and expand its contract.
Omojevwhe Akponime is Head, Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, at the NNPC Project Monitoring Office. He said NNPC’s daily reviews show the lines in PINL’s area of coverage running green.
Recounting a recent NNPC management session, he said: “There is no question for PINL. They said so because they are doing well.”
Onyekachi Amaonwu, the Eze Eberi-Ugo Omuma, tied the national targets to the communities in the room. “For you to get the target, there is no pipeline in Abuja is here,” he said. He called on monarchs and community leaders to work with the company.
Kevin Anugwo, the Eze Ekpeye-Logbo, said Ekpeye communities have returned to their farms and fishing waters since crude theft along the line was curbed. For years, soot and spilled crude had made both impossible. “Before you came on board, we were unable to fish in our waters because the crude oil had taken over the place,” he said.
Legborsi Yamaabana, spokesperson of the Niger Delta Ethnic Youth Leaders Forum, thanked the Federal Government for renewing PINL’s contract. He said dissenting voices would not change the region’s position. “As Niger Delta people, we have adopted PINL as our own,” he said.
Read also: UNDC seeks PINL contract extension on reported oil production gains
Full industry review by Mezeh:
In a full industry review, Mezeh, the GM, listed the objective of PINL as striving to strengthen the partnership that enables them to protect critical infrastructure, maintain peaceful communities and contribute to the sustainable growth of the Niger Delta and Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. This is because the partnership is critical for achieving oil targets.
He mentioned achievements such as successful protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure across Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo and Abia States, across the Trans Niger Pipeline and Eastern Gas Network.
He also mentioned youth employment in their surveillance operations which he said provided employment and livelihood opportunities for over 35,000 youths. On education, he said the company awarded over ₦2 billion in scholarships to more than 1,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
He talked about maintaining relationships across 215 host communities, with regular engagements involving traditional rulers, youths, CDCs and women leaders, and other stakeholders. “More than 2,000 women have benefited from our empowerment initiatives along the Trans-Niger Pipeline corridor.”
He said their annual Christmas palliative programme reaches all 215 host communities, providing food, relief items and medical outreach during the festive season. “Our surveillance efforts contribute to reducing pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, helping to minimise associated environmental impacts and protect national revenue.”
Mezeh said these achievements demonstrate that infrastructure security, community engagement and development are interconnected.
“We are proud of this progress, but we recognise that there is still more to do. Our commitment is to build on these achievements, strengthen our partnerships and continue creating value for our communities and the nation.”
He said the benefits of increased production and infrastructure development should ultimately extend beyond corporate balance sheets to contribute to employment, community development, skills acquisition, education, improved livelihoods and sustainable development across the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
“This is why the partnership between PINL, government institutions, traditional rulers, host communities, youths, women, security agencies and other stakeholders remains so important.
“Our collective responsibility is to ensure that the infrastructure supporting Nigeria’s energy future remains secure, reliable and sustainable.”
From industry growth to infrastructure security:
Mezeh said the figures they highlighted were encouraging, but that they also carry an important message for all Nigerians; “Growth creates opportunity, but security protects opportunity.
“As production increases and new oil and gas infrastructure comes on stream, the importance of pipeline security will become even greater.
“The Trans Niger Pipeline, Eastern Gas Network and other critical infrastructure within our areas of responsibility are part of the wider system supporting Nigeria’s energy security and economic development.
“This is why pipeline protection cannot be treated as the responsibility of PINL or security agencies alone.”
He said it must remain a shared responsibility involving operators, government, traditional institutions, host communities, youth and women leaders, surveillance personnel, contractors and other stakeholders. “Our objective is to prevent incidents through vigilance, intelligence sharing, effective surveillance, early intervention and strong community relationships. This is the partnership we must continue to strengthen.”
Call for transparency:
The GM made it clear that calls for transparency must go with responsibility. “As stakeholders in the Niger Delta, we must be careful not to allow unverified figures or allegations to create unnecessary mistrust between communities, traditional institutions, government agencies, contractors and companies responsible for protecting critical national infrastructure.
“Our mandate at PINL is operational and professional. We are committed to the protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure, the safety and security of our operations, and constructive engagement with our host communities and stakeholders.
“Our community engagement is not driven by ethnic, political or personal interests.
What we need is facts, dialogue, transparency and accountability.
“We therefore appeal to our traditional rulers, community leaders, youth representatives, women leaders, the media and all stakeholders to promote responsible public discourse.”
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