HOSTCON Youths Pass Vote Of Confidence In Okunbo, Hail Performance

Niger Delta youths under the auspices of HostCommunities Youth Council of Nigeria (HOSTCON-YCN) have passed a vote of confidence in the Managing Director/Executive Officer, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), Osahon Okunbo Jnr, over recent achievements on the protection of the nation’s oil and gas assets as crude oil production rises above the quota of the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota.

The vote of confidence in Okunbo was contained in a statement signed by HOSTCON-YCN’s President, Senior Comrade Emmanuel Fiawei Pathfinderon, on behalf of members of the National Executives and Board of Trustees, and made available to journalists after the National Executive Council Mid-Term Meeting and Annual Board of Trustees Review held in Abuja.

Pathfinder commended PINL for its effective engagement with host communities and sustained engagement with critical stakeholders, saying it remains one of PINL’s strongest weapons against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, and economic sabotage in the region. According to the statement, the PINL boss had demonstrated exceptional leadership, deep professionalism, crystal-clear transparency, and unwavering commitment.

PINL has demonstrated patriotism by protecting Nigeria’s strategic oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta. Noted that recently, there has been improved pipeline security and community collaboration, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s oil production exceeding its OPEC crude oil production quota for the first time in 2026 and ensuring that the nation’s oil and gas assets are secured, promoting sustainable development across host communities.

The state reads in part, “Industry reports have attributed this achievement to enhanced surveillance, stronger stakeholder partnerships, and improved protection of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), resulting in increased crude oil production output, improved operational stability, and renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum Oil and gas sector. “The Council particularly applauds the company’s community-driven operational model, which has strengthened peace, reduced youth restiveness in many operational areas, enhanced intelligence gathering, and built confidence between Government, oil companies, traditional institutions, youths, women, and host communities.”

The Council further acknowledges PINL’s remarkable investment in human capital development through its Host Communities Scholarship Programme.

“The initiative has expanded from a transparent community allocation model to a broader programme covering about 1,500 scholarship beneficiaries across Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, and Imo States.

“The programme provides substantial financial support for undergraduate and postgraduate students, thereby creating educational opportunities for deserving youths from pipeline host communities and promoting long-term socio-economic development.

“With these monumental achievements by the management of PINL in our communities, HOSTCON-YCN’s President, Senior Comrade Emmanuel Fiawei Pathfinder,  members of the National Executives, and Board of Trustees, after the National Executive Council Mid-Term Meeting and Annual Board of Trustees Review held in Abuja here by unanimously pass a vote of confidence on the Managing Director/Executive Officer, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, Osahon Okunbo Jnr, for working assiduously to protect the nation’s oil and gas assets, which had led to unprecedented crude oil production, rising above the quota given to Nigeria by the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries, OPEC.

“HOSTCON-YCN equally recognised the company’s sustained implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, empowerment programmes, stakeholder consultations, community development interventions, and its continued efforts to build enduring relationships with traditional rulers, youth organisations, women groups, and other critical stakeholders throughout the Niger Delta.”

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Council specially commended the General Manager, Community Relations, Dr Akpos Mezeh, and the Director of Operations and Stakeholder Engagement, Chief Seriake Alamieyeseigha, for their outstanding, proactive, excellent performance, professionalism, and strategic leadership qualities towards peaceful engagement with host communities, including traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders.

“Their dedication has helped strengthen, build confidence and trust among stakeholders and the company management, and has contributed significantly to the operational successes recorded by the company over the years”, the statement added.