Abuja: Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria (PLAN), has called for stronger policies, funding, skills development, and host community partnerships to safeguard and expand Nigeria’s pipeline infrastructure. The President of PLAN, Ngozi Adeleke, made the call in a communique on Friday in Abuja. The association cautioned that persistent regulatory gaps and manpower shortages were hindering growth.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this position was part of a series of resolutions and recommendations reached at the 9th Nigeria International Pipeline Technology and Security Conference (NIPITECS), organised by PLAN. The conference, with the theme ‘Building Robust Pipeline Systems for the Decade of Gas and Beyond’, brought together stakeholders with a strong focus on pipeline infrastructure development, security, technology, and investment.
Adeleke explained that PLAN and conference delegates adopted several resolutions, emphasising that pipelines were critical national assets central to Nigeria’s oil
and gas development. It was noted that funding for pipeline projects in Nigeria should be built into capital funds for enhanced pipeline-based project delivery. The conference agreed on the existence of a roadmap for the pipeline system in the country, but resolved that a re-engineered roadmap for the future should be emphasized and strategies built around it for proper implementation.
The association recognised the importance of skill acquisition and resolved that identified skill gaps in the pipeline sub-sector should be addressed through technical training, capacity building, and retraining of relevant professionals in the sector. This would be achieved through collaboration with regulatory and professional bodies, as well as relevant stakeholders, especially engineers.
Adeleke said the association commended Nigerian-based industries and encouraged the development of a reliable indigenous database for pipeline installations and operations across the country. Institutions of higher learning and relevant r
esearch centres were also encouraged to focus on emerging pipeline technologies and integrate them with indigenous pipeline companies.
The association called for the inclusion of pipeline engineering, management, and innovation in the tertiary education curriculum with a focus on relevant skill acquisition. Collaboration amongst engineers, policymakers, academics, industry stakeholders, operators, and communities was also advocated to accelerate development in the industry.
Adeleke emphasized the need for long-term partnerships with host communities from conception to operations of pipeline projects to ensure trust, peaceful coexistence, and project success. PLAN also called for the establishment of a platform for synergy between students, academia, and industries to address issues affecting national treasure.
The association agreed on the development of a centralised indigenous pipeline database and stronger collaboration between industry, academia, regulators, and host communities. It also sought policie
s and regulations that encourage investment, sustainability, and faster licensing processes.
Adeleke highlighted concerns over the quantity and quality of trained pipeline engineers, calling for stronger synergy between students, academic institutions, and industry players. PLAN urged the Federal Government, through NNPCL, to formally declare pipelines as critical national assets and to partner with the association on funding, planning, and capacity-building initiatives.
The association recommended that NNPCL lead efforts to re-engineer Nigeria’s pipeline roadmap and establish a multi-stakeholder committee to drive industry collaboration. Other recommendations included the development of a national pipeline engineering curriculum by the Nigerian Universities Commission, and closer involvement of research institutions in emerging pipeline technologies, as well as long-term partnerships with host communities to enhance security and ensure project success.