Agorehmi Bright, Reporting
PORT HARCOURT – Nigeria has surpassed its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota for the first time this year, with indigenous pipeline operator Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) credited as a key driver of the recovery along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).
Data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) on June 11 showed that national oil output rose by 2.2 per cent in May to approximately 1.70 million barrels per day (bpd), up from 1.66 million bpd in April.
Crude oil production averaged 1.53 million bpd, crossing the country’s OPEC quota of 1.5 million bpd for the first time in 2026.
The improved performance dominated discussions at an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting convened by PINL in Port Harcourt for host communities across Rivers, Imo and Abia States.
Traditional rulers and other stakeholders at the gathering urged the Federal Government to provide stronger institutional support for PINL’s efforts in keeping the pipeline operational and secure.
Dr Akpos Mezeh, PINL’s General Manager for Community and Stakeholder Relations, attributed the gains to stronger operational stability on the TNP, deeper community participation, and a shared commitment among government, security agencies and host communities to reject crude theft and pipeline vandalism.
Mr Mezeh noted that more reliable infrastructure was translating into higher government revenue, improved energy security, and renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
“The Trans Niger Pipeline continues to record remarkable operational stability,” he said.
He called for improved collaboration from host communities, while emphasising the roles of stakeholders and traditional rulers in protecting critical assets and government infrastructure in their domains.
Chairman of the South Monarchs Forum, who is also the Nye Nwe-Eli Emohua, King Sergeant Awuse, warned that the peace now enjoyed in oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta had become a target for some unpatriotic saboteurs.
“Some who are not patriotic enough will want to spoil your good works,” he cautioned.
King Awuse called for increased support for PINL from the Federal Government and security agencies.
“This is the time the National Security Adviser and the relevant agencies should give more support to PINL, because if our oil production goes down, it will affect every act of governance,” the monarch stated.
The King of Eleme Kingdom, His Majesty Dr Philip Obele Osaro, commended PINL’s community programmes for reducing youth restiveness in host areas.
He said increased funding for the company’s initiatives would expand opportunities for youth and women empowerment across the corridor.
Also speaking, Engr Akponime Omojewvhe, Head of Field Operations for the Eastern Corridor at NNPCL’s Project Monitoring Office, urged communities to provide early reports on suspicious activities of saboteurs and oil thieves.
He stressed that timely intelligence from residents remained critical to protecting the pipeline corridor from vandals and oil thieves.
The output milestone comes amid sustained operations by security agencies under Operation DELTA SAFE and renewed collaboration between regulators, operators and host communities.
With the TNP accounting for a significant portion of Nigeria’s export grade, stakeholders say maintaining the current stability will be crucial to sustaining production above the OPEC quota in the months ahead.
