Traditional rulers from Rivers, Imo, and Abia states have pledged to safeguard Nigeria's oil infrastructure to enhance national revenue. At a stakeholders' engagement in Port Harcourt, they praised Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited for improving security and community ties along the Trans Niger Pipeline. The event highlighted recent gains in oil production and community empowerment initiatives.
Traditional leaders from the Niger Delta region, spanning Rivers, Imo, and Abia states, gathered in Port Harcourt on December 12, 2025, for a stakeholders' engagement hosted by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL). They reaffirmed their dedication to protecting national oil assets, emphasizing that such efforts directly contribute to boosting the country's revenue amid economic recovery.
PINL reported notable progress in crude oil production, community collaboration, and security measures along the Trans Niger Pipeline corridor. Throughout November 2025, the Eastern Corridor maintained operational stability with no incidents of illegal bunkering, aside from a single sabotage event in Ikata community, Ahoada East Local Government Area. Community-driven intelligence has emerged as a key element in PINL's security framework, supporting a national increase in oil output.
Updates from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), PINL's principal partner, underscored strong financial performance: a profit of ₦5.4 trillion, revenue of ₦41.1 trillion, and projections for $60 billion in investments before 2030. NNPCL's Exploration & Production arm achieved 335,000 barrels per day, the highest in 36 years. "These numbers show that every pipeline protected and every barrel saved directly supports Nigeria’s economic recovery," PINL stated.
Julius Edi, Special Adviser on Host Communities representing the Minister of Petroleum Resources, commended the cooperation of local communities, attributing rising production to their vigilance. He warned against sabotage, noting, "Those engaged in bunkering cannot point to a single tarred road or primary school they built."
Several monarchs voiced support. HRM Eze Levi Oluoma of Owawe called for youth employment and improved infrastructure to sustain peace. HRM Ike Ehie, King of Ehie, credited the region's advancements to long-term community efforts and lauded PINL's surveillance model: "If someone tampers with the pipeline, we know his father and mother. Outsiders cannot manage our security better than us."
The Paramount Ruler of Oguta in Imo State urged federal authorities to redirect benefits back to host communities. The King of Eleme hailed PINL's transparency as a model for other operators, saying increased production stems from effective engagement.
PINL announced initiatives including empowerment for over 2,000 women, upcoming scholarships, and Christmas palliatives in areas like Sakpenwa, Owaza, Ahoada, Mmahu, Emuoha, and Yenagoa. Dr. Akpos Mezeh, PINL's General Manager for Community and Stakeholders Relations, thanked participants: "Let us continue to protect national assets, empower our people and strengthen the prosperity of our region."
