The United Niger Delta Congress has urged the federal government to extend the pipeline surveillance contract held by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, arguing that the company has delivered measurable improvements in crude oil production, infrastructure protection and job creation across the Niger Delta. The group's call follows a House of Representatives technical subcommittee investigation into allegations against the company and its managing director Osahon Okunbo, which the subcommittee reportedly found to be unsubstantiated and recommended dismissing.
According to the UNDC, PINL has significantly improved crude oil deliveries through the Trans Niger Pipeline to the Bonny Terminal, rising from three percent in August 2022 when operations began to 98 percent by September 2026. The company also restarted Oil Mining Lease 11 within 90 days of engagement after it had been shut for 18 months, the group said.
Beyond production, the UNDC highlighted PINL's work addressing illegal oil activities, noting the company has remediated 2,049 illegal pipeline connections and destroyed 1,010 illegal refinery clusters while conducting surveillance across 215 host communities. The company has employed more than 35,600 surveillance guards from Niger Delta communities and operated 28 forward bases, 130 boats, 175 vehicles and 25 drones to support regional operations.
The UNDC also pointed to community investments, stating that PINL has awarded over 5,000 scholarships to children from host communities and provided skills training to more than 4,000 women and girls. The group warned that interrupting the contract could weaken pipeline protection and damage investor confidence in government contracting decisions.