Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has expressed support for the resumption of crude oil production in Ogoniland, describing the move as a strategic national priority that should be implemented through inclusive, transparent, and environmentally sustainable processes.
The company made its position known during its monthly stakeholders’ meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where it underscored the economic and developmental significance of restarting operations in the oil-rich area after more than three decades of shutdown.
Ogoniland, which falls under Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, is estimated by PINL to have the capacity to produce more than 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
The firm also noted that the suspension of oil activities since 1993 has resulted in revenue losses exceeding $226 billion for Nigeria.
The company, however, stressed that any resumption must go beyond production targets and be anchored on community participation, environmental protection, and operational transparency.
According to PINL, host communities must be fully integrated into every stage of the process to build trust and ensure long-term stability in the region.
It also called for sustained environmental clean-up and restoration efforts in Ogoniland, noting that ecological concerns remain central to long-standing tensions over oil exploration in the area.
The firm further advocated a community-based security approach, saying its experience in pipeline surveillance across the Niger Delta has shown that local involvement improves protection of critical oil infrastructure.
PINL also emphasised the need for economic inclusion, urging that residents benefit directly through job opportunities, contract participation, and skills development programmes linked to renewed operations.
Speaking at the meeting in Port Harcourt, the General Manager for Community and Stakeholder Relations, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, reaffirmed the company’s readiness to support a structured resumption process.
“At PINL, we stand ready to support this process by applying our experience in stakeholder engagement and infrastructure protection to ensure a peaceful, secure, and sustainable resumption,” he said.
Mezeh lamented the prolonged inactivity in the region, stating that available data suggests Nigeria has lost over $226.734 billion due to halted production from 96 oil wells in Ogoniland over the past 32 years.
He said the figure highlighted both the economic cost of continued suspension and the significant opportunity available if operations are restarted under the right conditions.
“The position of PINL aligns with growing calls from stakeholders in the Niger Delta for the Federal Government to restart oil production in Ogoniland in a manner that balances economic benefits with environmental justice and community interests,” he added.
Oil production in Ogoniland was suspended in 1993 following unrest and environmental concerns linked to decades of exploration activities in the area.
PINL maintained that with the appropriate framework, restarting operations could significantly boost national output, increase government revenue, and support broader economic growth.
During the same meeting, the company announced scholarship awards to more than 1,000 students from host communities, with undergraduates receiving N500,000 each and postgraduate students N1 million each.
Dr. Mezeh said the initiative was part of PINL’s engagement strategy with host communities and a gesture of appreciation for their cooperation in safeguarding pipelines against vandalism.
He added that over N2 billion had been disbursed for scholarships, excluding additional women empowerment programmes.
He also noted that pipeline security in their areas of operation had improved significantly, claiming near-zero infractions and rising production levels approaching 1.8 million barrels per day.
Traditional leaders present at the meeting, including the Nye-Nwe-Eli of Emohua Kingdom, Chief Sergeant Awuse, supported calls for the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, while urging government to take concrete steps toward implementation.
The monarch commended PINL’s ongoing engagement with communities, describing it as essential to maintaining peace and ensuring the safety of oil infrastructure in the region.
