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 project, emphasizing its potential to drive economic transformation across the country.
Speaking at NNPC Limited’s Gas Power & New Energy Directorate’s 2025 AKK Business Development Forum, Ojulari revealed that new contractors have been brought on board to accelerate progress and ensure timely delivery. The forum, themed “AKK Pipeline Progress Update and Opportunities Engagement,” served as a platform for engaging stakeholders and investors.
Ojulari highlighted that despite early skepticism about the project being a “white elephant,” significant progress had been made—particularly on the second segment of the pipeline, a 320km stretch where all welding work has been completed.
“We are not just acknowledging the near completion of an engineering feat,” Ojulari said. “We’re reaffirming our determination to unlock the full potential of this pipeline for national prosperity.”
He described the AKK project as a cornerstone in Nigeria’s drive for energy security, economic revival, and industrial expansion. “This pipeline isn’t just infrastructure—it’s a lifeline for growth, job creation, and national integration,” he said.
The pipeline is expected to deliver up to 2.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily to power plants and industries in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and beyond—boosting electricity generation and revitalizing manufacturing, especially in Northern Nigeria.
Ojulari also noted that more than 1,900 skilled and semi-skilled Nigerians have been directly employed on the project so far. “Thousands more jobs will be created once the pipeline becomes operational, thanks to the broad economic ripple effects across multiple sectors,” he added.
