Business

PINL To Align With FG To Achieve 2.5mbpd Crude Production

Published

4 months ago

January 28, 2026

Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited(PINL), a private security company (PSC) in charge of surveillance of the Eastern Corridor of the Trans- Niger Pipeline (TNP), has pledged to allign its operations with the Federal Government’s vision of attaining 2.5 million barrels per day crude oil production in 2026.

General Manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations of the firm, Dr Akpos Mezeh, disclosed this during its January meeting with stakeholders from the TNP host communities in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

He said the decision was part of the company’s strategic priorities for the year 2026, noting that the firm also aims at strengthening collaborations with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and other security agencies in achieving the target.

According to Dr Mezeh, the company will also mediate in conflicts in all oil producing communities in the area to ensure that the targeted production output is met.

He said: “As we move into 2026, PINL’s focus will be on aligning with the efforts of the Federal Government towards meeting the 2.5m bpd production target in 2026, sustaining zero infractions along the TNP coagencie, strengthening collaboration with NNPCL, ONSA, and security agencies, mediating conflicts in Ogoniland and other oil producing communities with a view to resuming production”.

The company also disclosed plans to expands its empowerment programme for women and youths of the host communities as well as deepening community awareness against activities of vandals.

He added: “PINL will be expanding women and youth empowerment programmes, deepening community intelligence and participation, advocating for improved government presence and infrastructural development in the oil and gas communities.

“We pledge to uphold transparency, accountability, and consistent engagement”.

To ensure improved surveillance in the year 2026, the PINL official announced plans to conduct capacity-building training for Community-Based Contractors (CBSs) in the first quarter of 2026, focusing on incident reporting, event reporting, guard patrol procedures, surveillance and intelligence gathering.

While thanking the communities for their efforts in 2025, Mezeh urged them to continue on the part of dialogue in resolving all issues.

He said: “Distinguished stakeholders, the story of the Trans-Niger Pipeline is changing and you are the author of that change. What we protect together today determines what Nigeria earns tomorrow.

“Let us continue to choose dialogue over disruption, cooperation over conflict and shared prosperity over short-term gain”.

In his remarks, Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM King Bubaraye Dakolo urged the Federal Government to consider development of the host communities to foster peace and curb vandalising in the region.

The monarch particularly noted the need to make petroleum products affordable for host communities to discourage the sale of adulterated products in their areas.

“Let the NSA’s office hear that if the Federal Government provides petroleum products at affordable cost across the Niger Delta everything about vandalism ends because there will be no person to buy.

“Educate the youths at levels and when there is no demand for it, supply will end. So educate the youths, engage the youths and make efforts towards providing petroleum products at the communities.

“How painful it is that you have oil wells, manifolds in your community and you still buy higher than those who don’t have? Why won’t the Federal Government know that that’s the cause of the problem of vandalism in the Niger Delta?

“So while thanking you and your efforts in engaging us everytime and dialoguing for peace in the Niger Delta, let the Federal Government do the needful,” he queried

Also speaking, the Ibenanowei of Bomo Kingdom, of the State, HRM king Joshua Igbugburu called on community youths to continue in their resolve to protecting pipelines.

The Bomo king also appreciated the company for uniting the communities through their regular engagements.

“I call on all community leaders and youths to protect the pipelines and oil platforms in our communities at all times. We need to maintain the continued peace in Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta to attract more development to our communities. PINL, thank you for your good work in Niger Delta by uniting the people in your area of operation,” the monarch said.

Also speaking Comrade Robert Igali, Director-General, Bayelsa State Centre For Youths Development, said for there to be sustained peace along the TNP, youth development should not be overlooked.

“While we seek peace and zero-tolerance for pipeline vandalism in Bayelsa State, it is important to note that the major actors are these youths who have decided to embrace peace and work with PINL. It is therefore very important that this year, if there will continue to be zero- infractions, they should not be ignored, ” he appealed.

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

5 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

5 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.