The House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities has recommended the extension of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited’s (PINL) pipeline surveillance contract after its sub-committee found no evidence to substantiate allegations of financial misconduct and improper contract implementation against the company and its Managing Director, Dr Osahon Okunbor.
The committee also passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, the management of NNPC Limited, PINL and Okunbor, citing reported improvements in pipeline security, crude oil evacuation and production.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a sub-committee report at a special sitting on Tuesday, which recommended the dismissal of the petition against PINL and the discontinuation of further investigations into the allegations.
The petition, dated September 5, 2026, was submitted by the Niger Delta Oil-Producing Communities Reform Movement. It accused PINL of improper contract implementation, alleged mismanagement of contract funds, questionable personal expenditure by its managing director and neglect of surveillance personnel. The petitioners also requested a forensic audit of the company’s finances.
However, the sub-committee said the petitioners failed to appear despite invitations issued on September 14 and 22, and October 5. It added that they neither sent representatives nor provided documentary evidence to support their claims.
PINL, on the other hand, appeared before the panel and submitted a written report titled “The Impact of PINL Operations on Oil Production and Stability of the Niger Delta,” alongside geotagged photographs to support its account of operations.
After reviewing the submissions, the sub-committee concluded that the allegations against the company and Okunbor had not been substantiated. It consequently recommended that the petition be dismissed and PINL’s contributions to pipeline protection be acknowledged.
The report also proposed a vote of confidence in the National Security Adviser, NNPC Limited’s management and the pipeline surveillance contractors covered by the inquiry.
Highlighting PINL’s reported operational achievements, the sub-committee cited an increase in the proportion of crude oil reaching the Bonny Terminal through the Trans Niger Pipeline, from three per cent in May 2022 to 98 per cent in September 2026, according to figures submitted by the company.
It also reported that Oil Mining Lease 11, which had been shut in for 18 months, resumed operations within 90 days of PINL’s engagement.
Other achievements cited included the remediation of 2,049 illegal pipeline connections and the destruction of 1,010 illegal refinery clusters.
PINL said its operations, which commenced in August 2022, covered 215 host communities and engaged more than 35,600 surveillance guards.
The company listed its operational assets as 28 forward bases, 130 boats, 175 vehicles and 25 drones, supported by 454 personnel from government security agencies.
