PLAN Calls for Stronger Policies and Partnerships to Strengthen Nigeria’s Pipeline Sector
Story: written by Joseph January 3,2026
The Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria (PLAN) has urged the government and industry stakeholders to adopt stronger policies, increase funding, promote skills development, and build partnerships with host communities to protect and expand Nigeria’s pipeline infrastructure.
PLAN President, Ngozi Adeleke, made the call in a communique on Friday in Abuja, highlighting that regulatory gaps and manpower shortages continue to slow growth in the sector.
The statement followed the 9th Nigeria International Pipeline Technology and Security Conference (NIPITECS), organized by PLAN under the theme: “Building Robust Pipeline Systems for the Decade of Gas and Beyond.” The conference brought together key players to discuss pipeline development, security, technology, and investment opportunities.
Mrs. Adeleke explained that delegates adopted several resolutions emphasizing that pipelines are critical national assets essential to Nigeria’s oil and gas development. Key recommendations included:
- Integrating pipeline project funding into capital budgets to ensure efficient delivery of projects.
- Re-engineering Nigeria’s pipeline roadmap with actionable strategies for the future.
- Closing skill gaps through technical training, capacity building, and retraining of engineers and other professionals in collaboration with regulatory bodies and stakeholders.
- Developing a centralized indigenous pipeline database to track installations and operations for ease of access and management.
- Incorporating pipeline engineering and management into tertiary education curricula to foster innovation and skill acquisition.
- Fostering long-term partnerships with host communities from project conception to operation to build trust, enhance security, and ensure successful project delivery.
- Strengthening collaboration between academia, students, industry operators, and policymakers to address workforce shortages and accelerate technological adoption.
PLAN also recommended that the federal government, through NNPCL, formally declare pipelines as critical national infrastructure, and work with the association on funding, planning, and capacity-building initiatives. The conference called for a multi-stakeholder committee to coordinate industry collaboration and the development of a national pipeline engineering curriculum by the Nigerian Universities Commission.
Mrs. Adeleke reaffirmed PLAN’s commitment to working with government, regulators, industry stakeholders, and communities to strengthen Nigeria’s pipeline sector and advance the nation’s Decade of Gas aspirations.
