By Oluwakemi Kindness
The House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities on Tuesday passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, citing reported improvements in crude oil recovery and pipeline security.
The committee also backed NNPC Limited, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) and its Managing Director, Osahon Okunbor, while recommending an extension of PINL’s pipeline surveillance contract.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a subcommittee report on a petition against PINL at a special sitting on Tuesday.
The petition, filed on September 5, 2026, by the Niger Delta Oil-Producing Communities Reform Movement, alleged contract irregularities, financial mismanagement and neglect of surveillance personnel.
However, the subcommittee said the petitioners failed to attend three meetings despite invitations issued on September 14, September 22 and October 5. It added that they provided no documentary evidence to support their claims.
PINL appeared before the subcommittee and submitted a report detailing its operations and contributions to pipeline security.
The subcommittee concluded that the allegations against the company and Okunbor had not been substantiated. It recommended that the committee dismiss the petition and discontinue further investigation into the allegations.
A key finding in PINL’s submission showed that crude oil deliveries through the Trans Niger Pipeline to the Bonny Terminal rose from three per cent in May 2022 to 98 per cent in September 2026.
The report also stated that Oil Mining Lease 11 resumed operations within 90 days of PINL’s engagement after remaining shut for 18 months.
It further recorded the remediation of 2,049 illegal pipeline connections and the destruction of 1,010 illegal refinery clusters.
According to PINL’s submission, its operations cover 215 host communities and involve more than 35,600 surveillance guards, supported by boats, vehicles, drones and security personnel.
The report also highlighted PINL’s community development programmes, including more than 5,000 scholarships, skills training for over 4,000 women and girls, and flood relief in more than 10 communities in Rivers State.
The committee urged PINL to sustain its engagement with host communities and improve the welfare of surveillance personnel. It also commended NNPC Limited for supporting pipeline security operations.
Nigeria’s crude oil production remains below the 2026 budget benchmark of 1.84 million barrels per day, underscoring the importance of protecting oil infrastructure and curbing crude theft.
The subcommittee recommended extending PINL’s pipeline surveillance contract and passing a vote of confidence in Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, NNPC Limited and the contractors involved in pipeline surveillance.
The report is expected to be presented to the full House of Representatives for consideration and adoption.
