Pipeline Security Key To Nigeria’s $20bn Gas Investment – PINL

Pipeline security has become critical to Nigeria’s ambition to expand its gas industry and attract billions of dollars in new energy investments, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has said.

The company said the growing number of major gas projects and agreements in the country would only translate into economic growth, jobs and improved energy supply if communities, security agencies and other stakeholders work together to protect critical infrastructure from vandalism and sabotage.

The general manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations of PINL, Dr Akpos Mezeh, stated this  in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during the company’s August 2026 regular stakeholders meeting.

Mezeh said the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) by ECOWAS leaders had opened a new chapter for regional energy cooperation and demonstrated the growing importance of Nigeria’s gas resources.

The proposed 6,900-kilometre pipeline, which will connect Nigeria with Morocco through 13 Atlantic countries and provide links to landlocked Sahel nations, is expected to transport about 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually.

According to him, the project is expected to improve regional energy security, support industrialisation, create jobs and strengthen connections between West African and European energy markets.

He said the development should also serve as a reminder to host communities that the security of energy infrastructure was directly connected to the country’s economic future.

“For us at PINL, this project carries a very important message: world-class energy infrastructure can only thrive where pipelines are secure, communities are peaceful, and stakeholders work together,” Mezeh said.

He noted that the increasing investment in Nigeria’s gas sector had further raised the importance of protecting pipelines and other infrastructure carrying energy to industries, power plants and export facilities.

Mezeh cited recent figures from NNPC Limited, saying the company recorded a profit after tax of N535 billion in June 2026, compared with N462 billion in May, while monthly revenue stood at about N4.39 trillion.

He added that statutory contributions to the Federation Account between January and June reached N6.286 trillion, highlighting the continued contribution of the oil and gas sector to the Nigerian economy.

He also disclosed that natural gas production had risen to about 7.84 billion standard cubic feet per day, even as crude oil production declined slightly to 1.72 million barrels per day because of operational and technical challenges.

On major gas infrastructure, Mezeh said the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline had reached 98 per cent completion, with final tie-in activities ongoing ahead of the expected commencement of first gas in August.

He said the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline had reached 94 per cent completion, while the ANOH Gas Processing Plant had been commissioned.

According to him, NNPC Limited had also secured more than $20 billion in Gas Sale and Purchase Agreements within the past year, covering 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 gas supply.

He said the agreements, alongside projects involving the Dangote Refinery, UTM FLNG and Ajaokuta Steel Company, could stimulate industrial growth, improve energy security and create employment.

However, Mezeh warned that the benefits of the investments could be undermined if pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and sabotage continued.

He disclosed that operations along the Trans Niger Pipeline and Eastern Gas Network corridors were largely sustained during the past month through collaboration between PINL, security agencies, contractors and host communities.

He, however, acknowledged that incidents of attempted vandalism, sabotage and equipment failure were recorded in some locations, adding that prompt interventions led to repairs while some suspects were arrested and investigations continued.

The PINL executive called for stronger community surveillance and faster sharing of intelligence with security agencies.

“Every timely report and every act of vigilance protect lives, preserves our environment and safeguards Nigeria’s economy,” he said.

The company also announced that its stakeholders’ engagement forum would henceforth hold every two months instead of monthly, giving management more time to implement resolutions reached at the meetings.

Mezeh said PINL would nevertheless maintain regular engagement with host communities and attend to urgent issues as they arise.

He disclosed that the company had approved its scholarship programme as an annual intervention for students from host communities throughout the duration of its contract with the Federal Government.

He said the company would also continue with youth and women empowerment, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship support, community-based surveillance and peaceful conflict-resolution initiatives.

The meeting brought together traditional rulers, community leaders, youth and women representatives, security agencies, government officials, NNPC Limited representatives and other stakeholders.

Mezeh urged the stakeholders to reject pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, stressing that protecting national infrastructure was a shared responsibility.

He said the objective was not only to secure pipelines but also to create an environment where investment could thrive, communities could benefit from economic opportunities and Nigeria could fully realise the potential of its gas resources.