By Ogadinma Wokoma | National News
Operations along the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) and the Eastern Gas Network remained largely uninterrupted over the past month, with the Emohua zone recording zero cases of vandalism or other infractions during the period under review.
The development was disclosed at the August 2026 Stakeholders Engagement Forum in Port Harcourt, organised by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), the integrated pipeline infrastructure company overseeing operations along the Eastern Corridor of the TNP.
Speaking at the forum, PINL’s General Manager, Community and Stakeholder Relations, Dr Akpos Mezeh, said there were isolated incidents involving suspected sabotage, attempted vandalism and equipment failures during the period.
He, however, said the company’s rapid-response teams moved swiftly to restore affected facilities, while security agencies arrested suspects allegedly connected to some of the incidents.
Also speaking, the Head of Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, NNPC Limited Project Monitoring Office, Engr. Akponime Omojevwhe, confirmed the zero-infraction record in Emohua and commended the community for sustaining a peaceful operating environment.
Omojevwhe urged host communities to maintain the partnership with pipeline operators and security agencies, stressing that the protection of critical energy infrastructure was directly linked to Nigeria’s revenue and economic stability.
The engagement came against the backdrop of major developments in Nigeria’s gas sector, including the signing by ECOWAS Heads of State of the Intergovernmental Agreement for the proposed African Atlantic Gas Pipeline.
The planned 6,900-kilometre pipeline is expected to link Nigeria with Morocco through 13 West African coastal countries, potentially opening a major new route for regional and international gas supply.
NNPCL also reported a profit after tax of ₦535 billion in June 2026 and disclosed that it had secured more than US$20 billion in gas sale and purchase agreements over the past year.
The agreements cover 1.29 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day for long-term LNG feedstock and an additional 750 million standard cubic feet per day for domestic industrial supply.
Meanwhile, the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) and Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline projects are nearing completion, while the ANOH Gas Processing Plant has already been commissioned.
Dr Mezeh said investments of such magnitude could only be sustained where critical pipeline infrastructure remained secure and operational.
He attributed the relative stability recorded along the Eastern Corridor to continuous engagement with host communities, traditional institutions and security agencies.
According to him, cooperation among the stakeholders remains essential to preventing disruptions and ensuring that the country derives maximum value from its oil and gas infrastructure.
The Paramount Ruler of Emohua Kingdom, His Majesty Ohna Seargent Awuse, commended PINL for its approach to community engagement, saying it had significantly changed the relationship between pipeline operators and host communities.
“Before now, we only hear stories of vandalism. But you have ensured safety of those pipelines,” Awuse said.
PINL also announced that its scholarship programme for students from host communities would be implemented annually throughout the duration of its Federal Government contract.
The company further disclosed plans to expand youth and women empowerment initiatives, entrepreneurship programmes and skills-acquisition schemes as part of its broader community development strategy.
Stakeholders at the forum said sustained collaboration among pipeline operators, host communities and security agencies remained crucial to protecting critical national infrastructure and supporting Nigeria’s energy and economic development.
