The Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC), Bayo Ojulari has assured of the speedy delivery of the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Natural Gas Pipeline project, adding that the project will unlock economic prosperity when it comes on board.
The GCEO gave the assurance on Thursday at NNPC Limited’s Gas Power & New Energy Directorate for the 2025 AKK Business Development Forum.
The theme of the forum was ‘AKK pipeline progress update and opportunities engagement.’
The second segment of the AKK project is a 320-kilometer pipeline which the NNPC boss said all welding works have been completed.
Ojulari said, “We do not acknowledge the nearing completion of an engineering marvel only. We collectively recognize the need to work hard, or let me even say harder, together, to make sure the full benefit of this pipeline of prosperity is fully realised.
“This is a milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards energy security, economic revitalization, and industrial resilience. The AKK pipeline is more than infrastructure. It is a lifeline for economic advancement, job creation, and national integration.”
The NNPC boss described the gas pipeline as a strategic economic catalyst for Nigeria, which is poised to reshape the landscape through power generation and industrial growth.
“The pipeline will supply up to 2.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas a day. Foil in power plants in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and others. This will revive industries, especially in the Northern Nigeria, where I grew up.”
He disclosed that over 1,900 skilled and semi-skilled Nigerians have already been employed directly on the project, adding that “Thousands more will be employed once the pipeline becomes operational due to economic spin-offs that will occur all across the sectors.
Ojulari said, “The AKK pipeline supports Nigeria’s decade of gas initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on oil and expanding gas-based industries. It enhances energy equality by extending gas infrastructure to the northern region, which have historically lagged behind in access to energy.
“Transportation and Agriculture, the pipeline with deepened compressed natural gas adoption for transport, lowering fuel costs and emissions. Transportation of food from the north to other regions of the country and sub-Saharan Africa.”
He dismissed fears being raised by stakeholders on the delivery of the gas pipeline.
He said, “I took a deep interest in this pipeline because of all the stories you’ve heard and all the challenges, and I’ve had a lot of comments from different people asking, there’s a lot of money that’s gone to this pipeline, I think it’s time for us to freeze it.
“This team has not only worked so hard to deal with significant commercial and technical issues, inviting new contractors, reviewing the issues to ensure that we have the technical solution that allowed us to cross the River Niger.
“My commitment to you and to all parties here today is that please, our doors are open. We don’t know it all. If there are areas where we have blind sight, we will be open to discuss and we are determined to work with you to find solutions that drive Nigeria’s progress.”
The Project Manager, AKKK Gas Project, Engr. Japhet Chairman, said the second segment of the AKK project is 320 kilometers, adding that all welding works have been completed.
The $2.8bn Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline is a 40-inch diameter high-pressure transmission pipeline that will operate at 1,000 pounds per square inch (PSI).
He said, “We have also done all the river crossings. We have done all the road crossings. Currently, management has also approved and we will expedite by introducing additional contractors to fast-track the completion of the segment work.
“I would like to highlight the turn completion of the River Niger. It was scary going into that, but with experience from OB3, we brought in a lot of experts, consultations, with a lot of technical partners who were able to cross the River Ninja.
“For us, the key thing is the completion of the entire pipeline project. In the coming months, we should expect a total completion, of course, it has been buried, total pre-commissioning, for segment two.”
The Executive Director, Projects, Nigeria Gas Infrastructure Company Ltd (NGIC), Engr. Audu Ibrahim, while giving an update on the status of the pipeline, said segment one is 79.76 per cent complete.
He added that pre-commissioning activities are ongoing.
According to him, overall completion of the mainline is 83.05 per cent as of July 19, 2025.
He added that by November, “We should have the AKK Pipeline end-to-end mechanically completed.”
The Executive Director, Projects, Nigeria Gas Infrastructure Company Ltd (NGIC), Engr. Audu Ibrahim, while giving an update on the status of the pipeline, said segment one is 79.76 per cent complete.
He added that pre-commissioning activities are ongoing.
According to him, overall completion of the mainline is 83.05 per cent as of July 19, 2025.
He added that by November, “We should have the AKK Pipeline end-to-end mechanically completed.”
SOURCE: thewhistler.ng
