Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on Sunday announced the completion of the main line of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, marking a major milestone in the country’s gas infrastructure development.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr Bayo Ojulari, disclosed this after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, where he also briefed the President on the company’s 2025 performance and outlined strategic priorities for 2026.
Ojulari said the completion of the main line followed the successful crossing of the River Niger earlier in the year, a feat that had posed challenges for many years.
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“We have been able to successfully complete the welding of the main line of the AKK gas pipeline. By completing this main line, what that means is that we can begin to make all the connections to the main line, which we will do in the earlier parts of next year,” he said.
He explained that the development was critical to bringing gas in its full form into the northern part of Nigeria, particularly Kaduna, Kano, Ajaokuta, and Abuja. According to him, the pipeline will support industrialisation through gas-based industries, fertiliser plants, and power generation.
The AKK pipeline has the capacity to transport two billion standard cubic feet of natural gas per day to three proposed independent power plants in Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano, as well as other identified commercial off-takers along the route.
Since the flag-off of the project by former President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2020, NNPC Ltd has recorded significant achievements, keeping the project on course for timely delivery.
Looking ahead, Ojulari said NNPC’s focus in 2026 would be on increasing production and attracting investment.
“When we say increasing production, it sounds simple, but there’s a lot that goes into it. It means attracting the right investment to increase production, whether it’s oil or gas.
“Next year, we’re hoping to achieve at least 1.8 million barrels per day again, stepping up from where we are this year in terms of oil production, as well as a further increase in terms of gas production,” he said.
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He added that the company would rationalise its portfolio to attract more investment for incremental production and to develop fields that had remained fallow for many years.
The AKK Gas Pipeline is expected to play a transformative role in Nigeria’s energy landscape, driving industrial growth and expanding access to cleaner energy across the northern corridor.
