The committee passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu, NNPCL, PINL and recommended contract extension for pipeline security
The House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities chaired by Rep. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor has passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, NNPC Limited, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) and the company’s Managing Director, Dr. Osahon Okunbor, over improvements in pipeline security and crude oil production.
The resolution followed the adoption of a subcommittee report on a petition against PINL during a special sitting of the committee on Tuesday.
The report recommended that the Federal Government extend PINL’s pipeline surveillance contract, declaring that the allegations against the company and its managing director were not substantiated by the evidence presented before the subcommittee.
The petition was filed on September 5, 2026, by the Niger Delta Oil-Producing Communities Reform Movement (ND-OCRIM), which raised concerns over alleged irregularities in contract implementation, mismanagement of funds, personal expenditure linked to Okunbor and the welfare of surveillance personnel.
The petitioners also called for a forensic examination of PINL’s finances.
However, the subcommittee said the petitioners failed to appear despite invitations issued on September 14, September 22 and October 5, 2026. It added that they neither sent representatives nor submitted documentary evidence to support their claims.
PINL, on the other hand, appeared before the subcommittee and presented a written report titled The Impact of PINL Operations on Oil Production and Stability of the Niger Delta, alongside geotagged photographs to support its submissions.
Following its assessment, the subcommittee recommended that the committee dismiss the petition, discontinue further investigations into the allegations and recognise PINL’s contributions to pipeline protection.
It also recommended a vote of confidence in Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the management of NNPC Limited and the pipeline surveillance contractors mentioned in the report.
Among the key findings cited was an improvement in crude oil deliveries through the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) to the Bonny Terminal.
According to PINL’s submission, the proportion of crude oil reaching the terminal increased from three per cent in May 2022 to 98 per cent in September 2026.
The subcommittee further reported that Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, which had remained shut in for 18 months, was restarted within 90 days of PINL’s engagement.
It also recorded the remediation of 2,049 illegal pipeline connections and the destruction of 1,010 illegal refinery clusters.
PINL said its operations, which began in August 2022, covered 215 host communities and involved more than 35,600 surveillance guards.
The company also listed its operational assets as 28 forward bases, 130 boats, 175 vehicles and 25 drones, alongside 454 personnel from government security agencies.
On community development, the report highlighted PINL’s provision of more than 5,000 scholarships, skills training for over 4,000 women and girls, and flood relief assistance to more than 10 communities in Rivers State.
The committee also commended NNPC Limited’s leadership for creating an enabling environment for pipeline surveillance operations.
It urged PINL to sustain its engagement with host communities and pay continued attention to the welfare of surveillance personnel.
The lawmakers’ resolution comes as the Federal Government continues efforts to curb crude oil theft, secure critical oil and gas infrastructure and boost production in a sector that remains a major source of government revenue and foreign exchange.
Production figures attributed to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) put Nigeria’s crude oil output at approximately 1.50 million barrels per day in August 2026, while production including condensates stood at about 1.68 million barrels per day.
Average production reportedly rose from approximately 1.388 million barrels per day in the first quarter of 2026 to 1.525 million barrels per day in the second quarter.
Despite the improvement, crude oil production remained below the 2026 budget benchmark of 1.84 million barrels per day, highlighting the need for sustained efforts to protect pipelines, tackle crude theft and restore shut-in production.
The subcommittee consequently recommended an extension of PINL’s pipeline surveillance contract, urging the company to maintain its reported operational gains and community development programmes.
The report is expected to be presented to the full House of Representatives for consideration and adoption.
