By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), the surveillance firm responsible for the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP), has revealed that Nigeria has missed out on an estimated $226.734 billion in revenue following the suspension of crude oil production from 96 wells in Ogoniland over the past 32 years.
The company made the disclosure during its April monthly stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, describing the resumption of oil operations in the region as a strategic national priority. However, PINL stressed that any such move must be anchored on community participation, environmental sustainability, and transparency.
Ogoniland, which falls under Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, has the potential to produce more than 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Operations ground to a halt in 1993 amid widespread unrest and long-standing environmental concerns linked to decades of exploration activity.
Dr Akpos Mezeh, General Manager of Community and Stakeholder Relations at PINL, said the sheer scale of accumulated losses demanded urgent attention.
“Available data shows that over $226.734 billion has been lost due to the suspension of crude oil production from 96 oil wells in Ogoniland over the past 32 years. This clearly underscores both the economic cost of inaction and the immense opportunity that lies ahead,” he said.
PINL outlined four conditions it considers essential for a successful resumption of production. First, host communities must be involved as critical stakeholders across all phases of the process. Second, environmental clean-up and restoration efforts already under way must be sustained. Third, a community-based security framework – drawing on PINL’s pipeline surveillance model across the Niger Delta – should be adopted. Fourth, economic inclusion must be prioritised, with local residents benefiting directly through employment, contracts, and capacity development.
Dr Mezeh said the company’s stance reflected wider sentiment across the region. “The position of PINL aligns with growing calls from stakeholders in the Niger Delta for the Federal Government to restart oil production in Ogoniland in a manner that balances economic benefits with environmental justice and community interests,” he added.
PINL affirmed its readiness to contribute directly to the effort. “At PINL, we stand ready to support this process by applying our experience in stakeholder engagement and infrastructure protection to ensure a peaceful, secure, and sustainable resumption,” Mezeh said.
According to him, observers note that any successful resumption will depend on rebuilding trust among stakeholders, resolving environmental grievances, and ensuring host communities have a central role in decision-making.
PINL maintained that, with the right approach, restarting production in Ogoniland could significantly boost Nigeria’s output, increase national revenue, and contribute to broader economic growth.
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