The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has set a crude oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day for 2026, crediting improved collaboration with host communities along the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) for recent gains in output.
The projection was announced on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting organised by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) in Port Harcourt, where NNPC and government officials commended community leaders for helping to secure oil assets and reduce vandalism.
Akponime Omojevwhe, Head of Field Operations (Eastern Corridor) in NNPC’s Project Monitoring Office, said the TNP is currently operating without interruptions, a development he attributed to steady cooperation between communities, local leaders and PINL.
“We can see that the TNP is green, and what that means is that products are flowing uninterrupted.
“Our 2026 budget begins at 1.84 million barrels per day, with a targeted projection of 2.06 million barrels per day. As we move closer to next year, we ask stakeholders not to relent,” he said.
Omojevwhe stressed that pipeline security efforts cannot succeed without the support of local communities.
He noted that traditional rulers, youth groups and women leaders play a decisive role in sustaining surveillance and ensuring prompt reporting of threats.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, praised the partnership between PINL and host communities, describing it as a key factor in Nigeria’s push to raise national output.
Lokpobiri, represented by his Special Adviser on Host Communities, Julius Eddie, said the country remains optimistic about exceeding two million barrels per day in 2026.
“Without the peace from your domain, production will not be up. It is ambitious, but achievable, and higher output will translate to more revenue for government and greater benefits for communities,” he said.
PINL’s General Manager of Community and Stakeholders Relations, Dr Akpos Mezeh, said this year’s joint efforts helped curb vandalism and crude oil theft, strengthened trust between operators and residents, and widened community inclusion programmes.
He listed the expansion of security coverage, empowerment initiatives for women and students, and a grassroots communication project known as the Town Crier Initiative among the company’s achievements.
Mezeh called for deeper cooperation in 2026, urging communities to “continue to protect national assets and strengthen the prosperity of our region and nation,” and also announced Christmas palliatives for 215 TNP host communities.
Traditional rulers at the meeting echoed the call for ongoing partnership but urged the Federal Government to channel more development projects to oil-producing areas.
King Philip Osaro-Obele of Eleme in Rivers State praised PINL for its regular engagements, saying, “I come from a community hosting over 100 companies, and none has held consistent peaceful engagement like PINL.”
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