By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – The Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria (PLAN) and members of the National Assembly have called for the classification of oil and gas pipelines as national critical infrastructure and for the adoption of fresh policies to overhaul the country’s ageing pipeline network in order to secure Nigeria’s energy future.

The call was made at the 2025 Nigerian International Pipeline Technology and Security Conference (NIPITECS) held in Abuja, where government officials, industry leaders, and academics gathered under the theme ‘Building Robust Pipeline Systems for the Decade of Gas and Beyond.’

Chairman of PLAN’s Board of Trustees, Geoff Onuoha, commended the noticeable decline in pipeline vandalism across the country, describing the trend as encouraging evidence that public awareness efforts are paying off. He said PLAN remained committed to promoting safe and efficient pipeline operations as part of Nigeria’s long-term energy and economic stability goals.

“It is becoming noticeable that there is a drop in acts of unauthorised intervention in pipelines; pipeline vandalism, there are different terminologies we use to describe it. It is a good thing,” Onuoha said.

He explained that damaging pipelines does more harm than good, noting that such acts destroy the very environments and livelihoods that communities depend on.

“We hope that people are seeing that attacking pipelines or damaging pipelines does not provide a solution, because you do not get what you want from pipelines. You are actually doing harm to your environment, where you get your water, fish and cassava from,” he said.

Onuoha highlighted the central role of pipelines in sustaining Nigeria’s industrial and energy ecosystem, stressing that their importance is often only recognised when disruptions occur. He said PLAN was working to ensure a durable and well-maintained system that would serve the nation’s interests well beyond the Decade of Gas initiative.

“PLAN is therefore building a robust pipeline system not limited to gas alone because it only serves a portion of the industry that is served by pipelines. We are thinking beyond 2030, when the decade of gas ends.

Also speaking, energy veteran and consultant, Saidu Mohammed urged the Federal Government to officially recognise oil and gas pipelines as national critical infrastructure.

He advocated new financing models and greater private sector participation through public-private partnerships to replace ageing pipelines and enhance energy security.

“Nigeria’s pipelines have aged, and we must prioritise their replacement. A phased development approach supported by public-private partnerships will ensure efficient supply to refineries, reduce trucking dependence, and improve national energy security,” Mohammed said.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), Rep. Henry Okojie, represented by Dr Abdullahi Yakubu, assured that the National Assembly would continue to support policies and legislative frameworks that promote investment, innovation, and transparency in the sector.

“As a legislator and advocate for sound infrastructure and energy transformation, I reaffirm my commitment to supporting policies, legislative frameworks, and oversight processes to enhance investment, innovation, transparency and accountability,” Okojie stated.

In his remarks, Dr Vincent Izionworu, Associate Professor of Corrosion Engineering and Chair of the NIPITECS 2025 Technical Committee, said the ninth edition of the conference brought together regulators, engineers, academics, and global stakeholders to exchange insights on technical, regulatory, and innovative solutions to strengthen Nigeria’s pipeline systems.

He said the two-day forum was designed to deepen understanding and accelerate progress in building a resilient, efficient, and future-ready pipeline network.

Other notable speakers at the event included Adeche Omotosho-Oboro, Managing Director of Umugini Pipeline Infrastructure Limited; Engr. Ngozi Adeleke, Pipeline Manager; Sir Emeka Okwuosa, Group GMD of Oilserv Group of Companies; and Engr. Eloho Amagada, CEO of Amelin Projects Ltd, alongside a host of international experts.

The conference showcased peer-reviewed technical papers, engaging policy panels, and an innovative technology exhibition.