Trans Niger Oil Pipeline Now Fully Operational

By Adedapo Adesanya

Trans Niger oil pipeline has returned to normal operations after it was fully restored following a blast that ruptured the structure last week in Rivers State.

This was disclosed by Renaissance spokesperson, Mr Tony Okonedo, on Tuesday.

The Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), with a capacity of around 450,000 barrels per day, is one of two conduits that export Bonny Light crude from Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer.

Oil output through the TNP was rerouted to an alternative line after blasts ruptured the main link on March 19, according to Nigerian oil consortium Renaissance Group, which now owns Shell’s former onshore subsidiary that operates the pipeline.

Last week, the Trans-Niger Pipeline, which is one of Nigeria’s biggest pipelines and crucial for oil transportation in the Niger Delta, one of the country’s biggest sources of oil, exploded.

It carries the 450,000 barrels’ worth of oil per day mostly to the Bonny Terminal in the federal state of Rivers.

Although the cause of the explosion is unknown at this time, local media suggested it could be related to threats by militant groups to damage oil production facilities.

Later that evening, President Bola Tinubu, during a broadcast, declared a state of emergency in the south-south state.

He also removed the Governor of the state, Mr Similanya Fubara and his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and replaced them with a sole administrator.