…dismisses ND-OCRIM petition over alleged financial misconduct, cites failure to appear for three hearings
…commend Tinubu for sustaining reforms aimed at strengthening security in oil and gas industry 
By Gloria Ikibah
A subcommittee of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities has recommended the dismissal of a petition against Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), declaring that the allegations against the company and its Managing Director, Dr Osahon Okunbor, were not substantiated.
The committee also recommended an extension of PINL’s pipeline surveillance contract, commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its efforts to secure the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure, and called for a vote of confidence in the President, the National Security Adviser, NNPC Limited and pipeline surveillance contractors.
The recommendations followed an investigation into a petition submitted by the Niger Delta Oil-Producing Communities Reform Movement (ND-OCRIM), which accused PINL of improper contract implementation, mismanagement of contract funds, alleged personal expenditure linked to its managing director and neglect of surveillance personnel’s welfare.
According to the subcommittee’s report, dated October 2026, the petitioners failed to appear before the panel despite being invited on September 14, September 22 and October 5.
The report said ND-OCRIM neither sent a representative nor provided an explanation for its absence. It also failed to present documentary evidence to support its allegations.
In contrast, PINL appeared before the panel and submitted a written report titled: The Impact of PINL Operations on Oil Production and Stability of the Niger Delta, accompanied by geotagged photographic evidence.
The subcommittee said the company’s submission was not contested by the petitioners or any other stakeholder.
“The petitioners did not honour any of the three invitations and offered no explanation,” the report stated.
It added that the panel reviewed the available documents and concluded its sitting on October 7, 2026, in line with the House rules and the principles of fair hearing.
Oil recovery rises from 3 to 98 per cent
A major issue considered by the subcommittee was PINL’s account of its contribution to crude oil transportation and pipeline security in the Niger Delta.
According to the company’s submission, before it was engaged in August 2022, the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) was experiencing severe losses, with only about three per cent of the crude pumped into the pipeline reaching the Bonny Terminal.
The report noted that by May 2022, 97 out of every 100 barrels pumped into the pipeline were being lost, while force majeure had been declared and Nigeria’s crude oil production had fallen below 900,000 barrels per day.
However, PINL told the panel that the proportion of crude reaching the Bonny Terminal had risen to 98 per cent by September 2026.
The company attributed the improvement to its surveillance operations across 215 host communities, supported by more than 35,600 surveillance guards, 28 forward bases, 130 boats, 175 vehicles, 25 drones and 454 personnel from government security agencies.
The submission also stated that PINL had facilitated the remediation of 2,049 illegal connections and the destruction of 1,010 illegal refinery clusters.
It further reported that Oil Mining Lease 11 (OML 11), which had been shut down for 18 months, resumed operations within 90 days.
The subcommittee said these operational claims directly addressed aspects of the allegations concerning PINL’s performance, adding that the submission remained uncontested.
Panel finds no evidence against Okunbor
On the allegations against Okunbor, the subcommittee said no evidence was presented to substantiate the claims made against him.
The report described PINL as a well-organised company with a strong organisational and operational structure, adding that it was well regarded in its host communities.
It, however, acknowledged that the company’s submission did not address the allegations relating to contract funds and personal expenditure.
On those issues, the panel said its findings were based on the petitioners’ failure to present evidence to support their claims.
The subcommittee consequently recommended that the Committee on Host Communities dismiss the petition for lack of evidence and discontinue further investigation into the matters raised.
It also recommended that the Committee formally record that the allegations against PINL and its managing director had not been substantiated, while noting that affected parties retained their rights under the law.
PINL’s community interventions recognised
Beyond pipeline security, the panel acknowledged PINL’s reported interventions in its host communities, including educational support, skills development and humanitarian assistance.
According to the submission, the company had awarded more than 5,000 scholarships, provided skills training for over 4,000 women and girls, and delivered flood relief to more than 10 communities in Rivers State.
The subcommittee recommended that PINL sustain its engagement with host communities and pay continued attention to the welfare of surveillance personnel working under its operations.
It also urged the Federal Government to extend the company’s pipeline surveillance contract, citing its reported contribution to pipeline protection, crude oil recovery and the resumption of production at OML 11.
Tinubu, NSA, NNPC and contractors commended
The panel further recommended that the House committee commend Tinubu for sustaining reforms aimed at strengthening security in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It called for recognition of the National Security Adviser for coordinating national security efforts that have supported pipeline protection, as well as the management of NNPC Limited for its role in sustaining the reforms and providing an enabling environment.
Pipeline security providers across the country, including PINL and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, were also recommended for commendation for their contributions to securing national oil and gas infrastructure.
The subcommittee proposed a vote of confidence in Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, NNPC Limited’s management and the pipeline surveillance contractors named in the report.
The recommendations form part of the subcommittee’s report submitted to the House Committee on Host Communities for consideration and adoption.
The panel concluded that, having considered the petition, PINL’s submission and the evidence before it, the allegations against the company and its managing director had not been substantiated.
The proposed dismissal of the petition and the recommendation to extend PINL’s contract are subject to consideration and adoption by the parent committee.
