The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance (CCSOGG) has defended Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) amid controversy over pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta, challenging former militant leader Asari Dokubo to provide documentary evidence for his allegation that the company and its Project Director, Osahon Okunbo, are associated with a ₦2.7 trillion arrangement.
The coalition also urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to publish relevant details of pipeline surveillance contracts to promote transparency and address public concerns over government expenditure.
In a statement issued at a press conference, the coalition described the ₦2.7 trillion figure being circulated in connection with PINL as unsubstantiated, insisting that allegations involving public contracts should be supported by verifiable documents rather than claims capable of damaging reputations and threatening the security of individuals involved in critical national infrastructure protection.
The group said it was not opposed to scrutiny of government contracts but maintained that questions about expenditure should be addressed through the publication of contract documents, payment schedules, scopes of work and performance records.
“If the allegation is true, let the document be produced. If it is not true, those responsible for spreading it must have the courage and responsibility to correct the record,” the coalition said.
It argued that attaching an enormous financial figure to a named individual without publicly available documentary evidence could expose the person, his family, employees and communities associated with the operations to unnecessary hostility and security risks.
The coalition further claimed that the value of PINL’s contract was in the region of ₦150 billion, rather than the ₦2.7 trillion being attributed to the company and its leadership.
It challenged anyone with evidence to the contrary to make the relevant documents public.
According to the group, the value of a corporate contract should not be confused with the personal income of the company’s executives, as such contracts cover personnel, equipment, logistics, security operations, technology, subcontractors, community engagement and other operational expenses.
“It is therefore intellectually dishonest to take a corporate contract figure, whatever it may be, and present it as money personally collected by an individual,” it said.
The coalition’s claims about the contract value and the company’s performance were not independently established in its statement.
Coalition cites reduction in pipeline vandalism
Defending PINL’s operations, the coalition said the company was responsible for surveillance along the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline, covering critical infrastructure across parts of Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia and Imo states.
It said publicly available reports indicated that the company had recorded a significant reduction in pipeline infractions, citing PINL’s reported near-zero infractions on the Trans Niger Pipeline and an 87 per cent reduction in vandalism attempts compared with 2022.
The coalition also referenced a 2025 report by the company claiming that no pipeline vandalism was recorded across the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bayelsa and the wider corridor during the period under review.
According to the group, PINL attributed the reported outcome to cooperation among the company, security agencies and host communities.
It argued that the performance of pipeline surveillance contractors should be assessed through measurable indicators, including reductions in vandalism, protection of crude oil production, community cooperation, youth engagement and the deployment of surveillance technology.
The coalition said these indicators should take precedence over political disagreements and allegations surrounding the contracts.
It called on the relevant authorities to independently assess the company’s reported results before making decisions about the continuation or expansion of its responsibilities.
Group highlights community engagement
