Community-Based Protection Strategy Curbs Oil Theft

At a town hall meeting in Yenagoa on Friday, representatives from government and industry revealed that the collaborative security model has contributed to the prosecution of more than 100 individuals for pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, with 15 convictions secured so far.

“The convicted individuals are currently serving their sentences in Port Harcourt prison,” said Mr. Amakiri Harry-Young, Special Assistant on Energy, Security and Finance to National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who represented the NSA at the event.

The town hall, organised by pipeline surveillance contractor Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), highlighted how collaboration between local communities, security agencies, and surveillance contractors has transformed pipeline protection in the region.

Dr. Akpos Mezeh, PINL’s Consultant on Community Relations, attributed the company’s success in securing the Trans-Niger Pipeline to its focus on addressing community concerns while maintaining tight security protocols.

“Through consistent engagement and investing in local development, PINL has reduced crude oil theft to near-zero levels on the Trans-Niger Pipeline,” Mezeh said. “This approach not only protects critical infrastructure but also empowers local economies and restores environmental integrity.”

Traditional leaders present at the meeting endorsed the community-centric security model. King Joshua Igbugburu, the Ibenanawei of Bomo Kingdom, who represented traditional rulers from several local government areas, called the approach unprecedented.

“No other surveillance firm in the region has demonstrated this level of commitment,” the monarch stated, urging other contractors to adopt similar collaborative strategies.

The improved security measures align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s target of reaching 2.5 million barrels per day in oil production. Harry-Young emphasised the administration’s determination to achieve this goal through a combination of enforcement and stakeholder engagement.

“A dedicated committee comprising investigators and prosecutors has been working tirelessly to ensure that offenders are brought to justice,” he said, addressing previous concerns about the quick release of arrested vandals that had undermined security efforts.

Despite these positive developments, tensions remain over resource distribution. Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress, while supporting the enhanced security measures, criticised provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“The three percent allocation to host communities is an insult,” Okaba stated, calling for more equitable agreements that respect local stakeholders’ interests. Nevertheless, he urged communities to support pipeline protection efforts, noting that “any success in protecting the pipeline is a success for the Ijaw people as well.”

The town hall concluded with calls from traditional leaders for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to institutionalise regular dialogues between stakeholders and surveillance contractors as a permanent feature of the region’s security architecture.