The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has announced that the $2.8 billion Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project, under construction by Oilserve Limited, is set to be inaugurated next month.
Oritsemiyiwa Eyesan, Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Limited, made this announcement at the ongoing 41st Nigeria Association of Petroleum Explorationists 2023 expo in Lagos.
Eyesan emphasized the commitment to delivering the project in December as a significant step in alignment with Nigeria’s Gas Master Plan.
She stated, “In the coming months, you are going to be seeing a great difference in the way we operate because NNPC is poised to drive in more investments into the oil and gas sector. One of such huge investments is the AKK gas pipeline that will be commissioned this December.”
This development aligns with the earlier assurance given by the Minister of State, Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, in October, during the Pai River crossing session in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Ekpo had stated that the 614km AKK pipeline project would be delivered by July next year.
Addressing challenges in the project, Ekpo mentioned that while investors were willing to invest, they sought immediate returns.
Insecurity also contributed to project delays. He emphasized the need for the government to stabilize the naira, reduce contract cycles, and attract technology managers into the sector to boost investments.
The AKK pipeline is a crucial infrastructure project to transport natural gas from southern Nigeria to central Nigeria.