Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), one of the oil protection firms in the Niger Delta, says it has so far destroyed 883 illegal refineries out of 910 identified.
The destruction also involved 4,323 ovens and 2,506 receiver tanks found in the eastern corridor of the oil zone made up of Rivers, Bayalsa, Abia, and Imo states.
Officials of PINL who met with stakeholders in Rivers State on Monday, March 31, 2025, at the Hotel Presidential, said they arrested 265 arrests in the course of their operations with 45 remanded in prison custody while 31 cases are ongoing at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
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In a presentation at the forum, Akpos Mezeh, Community Relations Consultant, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd of PINL, said several aversions and arrests of oil thieves have been made across different wellheads by their covert operatives, the result being increased safety of oil facilities in recent times.
The presentation indicated that PINL has engaged over 6,000 individuals across the Abia, Imo, Bayelsa, and Rivers States of the Niger Delta region. “This effort has significantly mitigated youth restiveness and reduced involvement in illicit activities. Furthermore, community leaders and traditional rulers have also been actively involved in these engagements.
“In addition to its community engagement efforts, PINL has undertaken targeted and strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives across four states.”
One of the CSR activities, they mentioned, is intervention in the devastating floods that affected riverine communities in the Niger Delta in November 2022. “PINL extended support particularly to host communities of critical infrastructures by distributing essential household items, food supplies, warm clothing, and other necessities.
“This aid aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of flooding on these locals.
Following this immediate relief effort for flood victims, a comprehensive needs assessment was conducted within all area of operations. Consequently, another phase of CSR activities was implemented in December 2024.”
Beyond merely providing relief materials during this period, the officials said they launched an ongoing skill acquisition programme designed explicitly for engaging youth—and inclusive demographic groups such as women—in acquiring sustainable trades or vocational competencies fostering lawful livelihood options devoid from involvement with illegal bunkering practice.”
Mezeh said this initiative serves several purposes: social re-engineering strategy for re-orienting the people to desist from the illicit business highlighting the dangers to health, impact on the environment, country’s economy and clearly pointing out the criminal consequence of their actions.
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“These actions have positively impacted the safety of pipeline networks and oil production. Additionally, they have enhanced the livelihoods of host communities.
This has resulted in strong support from these communities, providing substantial intelligence that has significantly improved our operations and the Nation’s oil output. PINL is dedicated to enhancing the security of oil and gas assets through technology-driven solutions. We are committed to continuous improvement in safeguarding our pipeline network, ensuring safety protocols are rigorously maintained.
“In addition, we prioritize building strong collaborative relationships with host communities, securing their support and involvement in our initiatives.”
At the forum, community leaders and spokespersons were given opportunity to indicate some of their areas of need so that PINL would use needs-based approach to deliver support in their CSR scheme.
Mezeh said PINL represents a paradigm of success within the demanding context of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Entirely owned by Nigerian interests, PINL is said to be instrumental in bolstering the nation’s energy security through its provision of essential services to operators and stakeholders across this sector. “Since 2015, under the aegis of its parent company, Ocean Marine Solutions (OMS), PINL has been actively engaged in delivering security and maintenance solutions aimed at addressing persistent threats such as pipeline infractions and crude oil theft. In response to the fluctuating circumstances, OMS was engaged by what was then known as NNPC (currently NNPCL) for the maritime transportation of crude oil. This initiative successfully ensured continued refinery operations until financial limitations necessitated a strategic pivot that highlighted the importance of restoring and maintaining the refineries and pipeline network.”
Officials said PINL activities have drastically reduced attacks on the Trans Niger Pipeline that delivers products to Bonny export terminal. Nigeria has since moved to 1.8mbpd from as low as 900,000 bpd at the worst moment of oil vandalism and theft in the region.
This, they said, is because: “Through strategic interventions, PINL successfully stopped all illicit activities leading to a significant enhancement in hydrocarbon transfer and operational efficiency while markedly improving production metrics and recovery factor.”