By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu Warri
DELTA: Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), the firm responsible for securing the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), has intensified efforts to prevent further explosions along the critical oil transport route.
The company is engaging host communities across Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, and Imo states to strengthen security and foster cooperation.
Speaking in Port Harcourt ahead of a scheduled stakeholders’ meeting, PINL’s community relations consultant, Dr. Akpos Meze, emphasized the importance of collaboration in safeguarding the pipeline.
He disclosed that the firm had invited traditional rulers, youth leaders, women representatives, and political figures to the meeting, slated for March 31 and April 1 in Port Harcourt and Yenagoa, respectively.
“Our objective is to ensure that all stakeholders align with the vision of securing this national asset,” Meze stated. “We need collective ownership to enhance crude oil output and contribute positively to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”
Recent incidents of vandalism, including a blast in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, have raised concerns about security along the TNP. Meze described the explosion as an act of sabotage, noting that PINL had previously maintained a record of zero infractions before the incident.
“We are working to restore that record. The pipeline has already been repaired and is functioning at full capacity,” he affirmed.
With political instability in Rivers State being linked to rising cases of pipeline vandalism, PINL hopes that the upcoming meetings will help chart a path toward lasting security. Meze stressed that the firm remains apolitical and is focused solely on protecting national infrastructure.
“The engagement will ensure everyone is on the same page,” he said. “By working together, we can prevent further damage and secure the economic lifeline of the Niger Delta.”