Spread the word
About 55 members of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities have passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and PINL’s Managing Director, Osahon Okunbor, commending their contributions to the success of pipeline surveillance operations, improved crude oil production and the protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure in Nigeria.
The lawmakers also dismissed allegations of ineffectiveness and financial recklessness levelled against PINL, following an investigation by the Committee’s technical subcommittee, which found the allegations unsubstantiated by the evidence presented.
The lawmakers’ decision followed a comprehensive review of PINL’s pipeline surveillance contract and its impact on crude oil production, security and community development in the Niger Delta.
The report was presented at a special sitting of the Committee on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, after the subcommittee concluded its investigation into the allegations concerning PINL’s pipeline surveillance contract.
In its findings, the subcommittee recommended that the petition be dismissed in its entirety, noting that the allegations were not substantiated by the evidence presented during its proceedings.
The Chairman of the Committee on Host Communities, in his opening remarks, reiterated the commitment of the House of Representatives to fairness, accountability and due process, stressing that every allegation brought before the legislature must be tested against evidence before conclusions are reached.
He recalled that the Committee received the petition dated September 5, 2026, and subsequently referred it to a subcommittee to ensure a thorough and impartial examination of the issues raised.
According to him, the Committee had assured all parties of a fair hearing in line with the Rules of the House, recognising the importance of accountability in the management of public resources, the protection of critical national assets, effective pipeline surveillance and the welfare of host communities.
He commended the chairman and members of the technical subcommittee for their diligence and commitment in carrying out the assignment.
The report also highlighted PINL’s contributions to pipeline security, community development and the stability of crude oil production in Nigeria’s Eastern Corridor.
Among the achievements documented was the employment of more than 35,600 youths as pipeline surveillance guards, a development that has provided legitimate sources of livelihood for thousands of young people across the company’s areas of operation.
The subcommittee further acknowledged PINL’s educational interventions, including more than 5,000 scholarships awarded to undergraduate and postgraduate students from host communities.
These initiatives include a ₦2 billion scholarship programme supporting 1,500 students across Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia and Imo States, with 600 beneficiaries in Bayelsa State receiving scholarships ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦1 million each.
The report also recognised the company’s skills acquisition and economic empowerment programmes for women and girls. More than 4,000 women and girls have reportedly received training in vocational trades and small-business development.
Under the Women’s Skills Development and Enterprise Programme, PINL targeted 2,000 women and girls across 215 host communities, including 1,000 women in Bayelsa State who received ₦250,000 each.
In addition, the company provided relief materials to more than 10 communities in Rivers State affected by the 2022 and 2023 floods, while extending food bank and palliative support to host communities and surveillance personnel across its operational areas.
The report noted that such interventions contribute to creating a stable operating environment by giving host communities a greater stake in the protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure.
In its recommendations, the subcommittee called for strong commendation of PINL for its role in stabilising crude oil production in the Eastern Corridor.
It further recommended that the company’s operational deployment be sustained as part of continuing efforts to protect oil infrastructure and support the Federal Government’s target of increasing crude oil production to between 2.5 million and 3 million barrels per day.
The report also urged the federal government to encourage and expand the scope of PINL’s activities over a longer period to consolidate the gains recorded in pipeline security, youth employment, community engagement and sustainable crude oil production.
Spread the word