Niger Delta: NNPCL Seeks Host Communities’ Support To Protect Pipelines

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has solicited the support of host communities in the Niger Delta region in protecting pipelines in the region.

The company said the call became imperative following the recent attack by suspected armed individuals on the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) at Odau community in Abua/Odual local government area of Rivers State.

NNPCL’s head of Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, Project Monitoring Office (PMO), Engr. Akponime Omojevwhe, disclosed this yesterday at the monthly stakeholders engagement, organised by a pipeline surveillance firm, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) in Port Harcourt.

“We want to appeal to stakeholders from various communities, especially in Odau community where we have been having issues for the past two days. The NNPC, the PMO and the NSA has not slept for the past two days because of the incident in Odau community.

“We want to appeal to various communities, please, when you see people who are entering your community, but they are not from your community, when you see suspicious movements, in terms of numbers, large numbers of boys, men and you suspect that they are people of questionable character, please, reach out to us, through the company handling pipeline surveillance in your zone as fast as possible.

“If you get such information, pass it across to us because it is not really a good thing what we have experienced in past two days. We will do our best by engaging stakeholders from various communities. We have been succeeding and we will keep on succeeding. From us to you, we need a 100 percent cooperation so that we can do this job successfully,” Omojevwhe said.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, PINL’s general manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations, Dr. Akpors Mezeh, said the firm was deeply disturbed over the attack on the Odau axis of TNP, describing the incident as unfortunate.

Mezeh, who stated that the incident has been promptly escalated to the relevant security authorities for urgent intervention and necessary action, expressed confidence that the security agencies will take appropriate measures to apprehend those responsible and prevent any recurrence.

“Distinguished stakeholders, we are deeply concerned and disturbed by the recent attack on the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) by armed individuals precisely on 15th June 2026 around the Odau axis, Zone 8 in Abua/Odua local government area of Rivers State.

“This unfortunate incident has been promptly escalated to the relevant security authorities for urgent intervention and necessary action. We are confident that the security agencies will take appropriate measures to apprehend those responsible and prevent any recurrence.

“We wish to emphasize that attacks on critical national infrastructure have far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate damage caused. Such acts pose serious environmental risks, including pollution and ecosystem degradation, while also threatening the livelihoods of host communities whose economic activities depend on a safe and healthy environment.

“PINL therefore calls on all stakeholders, community leaders, youths, contractors, surveillance personnel, and security agencies to remain vigilant and continue to work together in protecting these vital national assets.

“The security of our pipelines is a collective responsibility, and their protection is essential for sustainable development, environmental preservation, and the economic well-being of our communities and the nation at large,” he said.