The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has once again pushed back the completion date for the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project, this time to the first quarter of 2025.
This is as the federal government highlighted the huge multiplier impact of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project on the nation’s economic growth and industrialisation.
This was made known during the visit of three cabinet Ministers to the AKK Gas Pipeline Project Site where they inspected the River Kaduna crossing milestone of the project in Kaduna, on Friday.
This is coming just as the group CEO of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari announced that the Project will now be delivered by the end of first quarter 2025, citing ongoing challenges with the project’s execution. The $2.8 billion AKK pipeline, which was initially slated for completion by the end of 2023, has now seen its delivery date pushed back multiple times.
“We are committed to developing gas infrastructure across the country, but we are faced with some challenges that have affected the timeline,” Kyari said. “We now expect the AKK pipeline to be ready for commissioning in the first quarter of 2025.”
The AKK pipeline is a critical component of Nigeria’s ambitious Trans-Nigerian Gas Pipeline (TNGP) project, which aims to transport natural gas from the southern to the northern regions of the country. The 614-kilometre AKK segment is being constructed by Oilserv Limited, the contractor for Segment A of the project.
The NNPC has shifted the completion date for the AKK gas pipeline project at least twice now.
Recall that in November 2023, the NNPC’s executive vice president, Upstream, Oritsemiyiwa Eyesan, had said the project would be ready for commissioning in December 2023.
However, in June 2024, Kyari, announced that the new completion date for the project is now December 2024.
Also, the project contractor, Oilserv Limited, had committed to completing the project by July or August 2024, earlier than the NNPC’s revised timeline.
The three ministers who visited the Project Site were: the minister of finance, coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun; minister of Information & National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi and minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.
Speaking at the project site, the minister of finance, coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun described the AKK Gas pipeline as the pipeline of prosperity, which is very dear to the President, because it will deliver the critical infrastructure needed to trigger the nation’s economic growth and industrialisation.
“The AKK Gas Pipeline is crucial for this administration and its delivery is in line with Mr. President’s strategy of bringing prosperity to the people,” Edun added.
In his remarks, the minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi said the AKK Gas Pipeline Project is a testimony to the fact that the federal government’s “Decade of Gas” has commenced in earnest.
“Nigerians should be proud of the AKK Gas Pipeline project. With the delivery of this project, the prosperity that Mr. President is always talking about is unravelling right here before our eyes,” he said.
Also speaking, the minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo said the gas pipeline is part of the federal government’s many efforts to harness the nation’s abundant gas resources towards improving power generation, revamping ailing industries and creating employment opportunities in the country.
Ekpo urged all stakeholders to support the NNPC Ltd towards delivering the project and several other gas projects as the country depends on it to bring prosperity to the people.
The three Ministers, who lauded the NNPC Ltd and its project partner, Brentex/CPP Ltd (BCL) on the progress made so far, also expressed optimism that the NNPC will deliver as promised.
Earlier in his remarks, the GCEO NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari assured the Project will be delivered by first quarter of 2025 as major segments of the job have been completed.
“Without promising too much, we assure you that this Project will be delivered on schedule. Our mission is to work towards delivering it by December this year. But we are confident this project will be delivered by the 1st Quarter of 2025,” Kyari informed the three visiting Ministers.
The GCEO, who said the NNPC Ltd recognises the strategic importance and enormous value of the project to Nigeria’s economy, stressed that the Company was bankrolling the project on the back of its own balance sheet.
In his speech, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Uba Sani, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, said the completion of the AKK gas pipeline will herald the much-needed economic and industrial revival in the state.
“If you know about the Kakuri Industrial Area and how most of our factories there have become moribund, you will understand why we in Kaduna State are all excited about the AKK Gas Pipeline. Without doubt, the pipeline will revamp our industries and bring about a huge impact on our people. We can’t wait for it to be completed,” the governor added.
The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline is a 40 inch by 614km linear pipeline system running from Akaojuta in Kogi State to Kano with associated intermediate, terminal gas facilities and other related equipment to transport natural gas to off-takers at Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.