The minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project as a pivotal step towards unleashing the immense economic potential of Northern Nigeria.
The minister spoke in Kaduna yesterday during a site visit to the River Kaduna AKK Gas Pipeline Project in the company of the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Mr Wale Edun, minister of state, gas resources, Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo and group chief executive officer of the NNPC, Mele Kyari.
He said; “The gas that will be transported will bring much-needed energy to homes, businesses and industries and will also be available for enabling transportation and bringing down its cost.
“The continuation and fast-tracking of this project—Nigeria’s biggest domestic gas pipeline project so far—by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration is a testament to the president’s commitment to the industrialisation and economic prosperity of every part of the country.”
He described the project as a crucial component of Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic prosperity agenda under President Tinubu, underscoring it as the country’s largest domestic gas pipeline endeavour to date.
The minister pointed out the critical link between economic development and security, stressing that many security challenges in Northern Nigeria stemmed from economic deprivation which can be alleviated by job creation and economic prosperity.
“Energising homes, farms and industries is pivotal for large-scale job creation,” Idris stated while emphasising the project’s potential to significantly boost the agriculture value chain – Northern Nigeria’s economic backbone.
He highlighted the nationwide impact of similar projects, saying last month saw the commissioning of three vital gas infrastructure projects in the Niger Delta.
He added that another visit would take place today to Rivers State to inspect the OB3 Pipeline River Niger Crossing Project, another transformational gas initiative.
He said the AKK would boost the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), noting that it had already attracted over $50 million in private investments.
“This initiative aims to establish CNG conversion and refueling facilities across the nation, furthering Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging its abundant gas resources”, he said.
Idris expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s vision for the “Decade of Gas,” which seeks to harness Nigeria’s gas resources for comprehensive national development.
“The AKK pipeline project is a beacon of hope, promising to revive, restore, and revitalise economic prospects for all Nigerians,” he said.