August 15, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has announced that for the first time in many years, it has met the oil and gas sector revenue benchmark for year 2025.
The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, disclosed this when he received a delegation of senior military officers, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
He attributed the milestone to a sustained peace in the Niger Delta region championed by operations of security agencies and pipeline surveillance contractors like Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), among others.
Adedeji had noted that the improved security situation in oil-producing areas had boosted production, resulting in greater profitability for companies in the sector and higher tax revenue for the federation.
“This is the first time in a long while that we’ve met our oil and gas target. The peace in oil-producing areas has allowed production to thrive, and companies are making more profit. Prosperity can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace — and the Armed Forces are critical stakeholders in sustaining that peace”, Adedeji said.
Dr Akpos Mezeh, General Manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations of PINL, acknowledged that activities of the company contributed to the attainment of the nations oil revenue target.
Speaking at a monthly engagement with host communities from Rivers, Abia, and Imo States, Mezeh said the company’s operations directly contributed to the nation’s revenue milestone.
“PINL recorded zero infractions in the past month, which helped boost national crude oil production. Our results are built on strong community partnerships, consistent safety measures for personnel, timely salary payments, and rapid dispute resolution. These strategies have reduced downtime and increased trust”, he said.
Mezeh highlighted recent interventions, including oil spill response in Yorla, Kpean (Khana LGA, Rivers State) and the dismantling of illegal bunkering sites in Umubule and Oyigbo communities. He also updated stakeholders on PINL’s CSR programmes for youth and women, while reaffirming the company’s alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
On his part, the Head of Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, NNPCL’s Project Monitoring Office, Engr. Akponine Omojevwe, called for continuous synergy between PINL and host communities.
“PINL has gone the extra mile with scholarships and community benefits. Securing the pipelines is a shared responsibility. Let us support them and protect their equipment”, Omojevwe stated.
Meanwhile, a joint security operations between PINL and the Special Prosecution Task Force (SPT) of the Federal Government have uncovered two illegal refining sites in Oyigbo local government area of Rivers State.
One site operated under the guise of a logistics firm, Emekus Nigeria Ltd, while the other was hidden within a piggery on the remote eastern bank of the Imo River.
The raids, led by CSP Omar Sini of the SPT, resulted in the confiscation of stolen crude, refining equipment, three storage tanks, and a 33,000-litre truck. Three suspects were arrested at Emekus Nigeria Ltd, while another fled the piggery site upon sighting the task force.
“This discovery was possible through intelligence from PINL’s community-based surveillance guards. Maintaining strong ties with the SPT and host communities has been key to protecting the nation’s oil assets,” said Andrew Ebikeme of PINL.
SPT’s CSP Sini confirmed that 108 suspects are currently remanded across the Niger Delta and Abuja, with two convictions already secured and 38 cases at trial.
Mezeh reiterated PINL’s “unwavering commitment to sustainable energy security” and urged all stakeholders to remain united in combating vandalism, oil theft, and environmental pollution.
“We have a shared responsibility to rescue our economy from further bleeding. Sustaining these gains means all hands must remain on deck”, he said.
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