The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to fast-tracking the completion of the $2.8 billion Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Natural Gas Pipeline, assuring Nigerians that the massive infrastructure project will spark a new era of economic prosperity across the country.
Speaking at the 2025 AKK Business Development Forum hosted by NNPC’s Gas Power & New Energy Directorate, Ojulari declared that the AKK pipeline is not just a construction feat, but a game-changer for Nigeria’s energy and industrial future. The forum, themed “AKK Pipeline Progress Update and Opportunities Engagement,” was monitored by our correspondent on Thursday.
To accelerate progress, Ojulari revealed that NNPC had brought in fresh contractors dedicated to seeing the project through to early completion, putting to rest widespread fears that the pipeline would become another white elephant project.
With over 320 kilometers of welding work now completed in the second segment of the pipeline, Ojulari described the AKK as a national milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward energy security, economic revitalization, and industrial resilience.
“This isn’t just infrastructure; it’s a pipeline of prosperity,” Ojulari said. “It will power homes, energize industries, create jobs, and drive innovation. The AKK pipeline is a strategic economic catalyst poised to reshape the country’s development landscape, particularly through power generation and industrial growth.”
Designed to supply up to 2.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day to key power plants in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and other regions, the pipeline is expected to revive dormant industries, especially in Northern Nigeria, which has long suffered from limited access to reliable energy.
Ojulari further disclosed that the project has already created over 1,900 direct jobs for skilled and semi-skilled Nigerians, with thousands more expected to gain employment once the pipeline goes live and triggers economic spin-offs across sectors.
He emphasized that the AKK pipeline is central to Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative, which seeks to reduce the nation’s dependency on crude oil while expanding gas-based industries. By extending gas infrastructure to previously underserved regions, the project will promote energy equity, unlock rural economies, and support critical sectors like transportation and agriculture.
Related Articles:
- NNPC pushes bold gas strategy, promotes industrial parks, CNG, ease of doing business
- NNPC Limited monthly report for June 2025, shows strong operational performance
- Obi laments Nigeria becoming a crime scene in reaction to sleaze in NNPCL
“The use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for transportation will reduce fuel costs and emissions,” he said. “This pipeline will improve agro-processing, enhance value chains, and ease the movement of food and goods from the North to the South and even across Sub-Saharan Africa.”
Looking beyond national borders, Ojulari hinted at the AKK’s potential to transform Nigeria into a key player in transcontinental gas trade. He revealed that future extensions could link the pipeline to North Africa, fostering deeper regional integration and unlocking new export routes.
“This is our opportunity to connect Africa through energy. The AKK pipeline could become a continental bridge for clean and sustainable power,” he said.
As the world continues to transition towards cleaner fuels, the NNPC boss noted that natural gas, being the cleanest-burning fossil fuel, offers Nigeria a realistic pathway to reducing its carbon footprint. “Diesel will be displaced massively when this pipeline becomes operational,” he added, positioning the AKK as a critical element of Nigeria’s climate-conscious energy strategy.
The AKK pipeline, upon completion, is expected to be one of the most transformational infrastructure projects in Nigeria’s history, igniting economic growth, industrialization, and energy access for millions.
