AKK: NNPC announces successful crossing of River Niger

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on Tuesday announced that works on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline has extended beyond the River Niger.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, while speaking at the ongoing 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja on Tuesday, explained that the development boosts hopes for the project’s completion by Q4 2025.

He added that the feat was achieved through effective and innovative contract reengineering and industry collaboration.

NNPC Ltd said the AKK gas pipeline and stations project is a flagship project that will deepen the integration of the northern region of the country with the Niger Delta and other parts of the country.

The pipeline can transport two billion standard cubic feet of natural gas per day to three proposed independent power plants in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and other gas-based industries, as well as other identified and proposed commercial off-takers along the entire pipeline route.

Since the flag-off of the project by former president Muhammadu Buhari in June 2020, the NNPC Ltd said it has recorded significant feats and the project is well on course to deliver on schedule.

In April 2023, the NNPC Ltd said the project had reached almost 70 per cent completion.

For the first time in a long while, Mr Ojulari said the nation enjoyed 100 per cent crude oil pipeline availability throughout June 2025.

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“The feat which was possible through the industry-wide security interventions led by the NNPC helped to boost crude oil production,” he said.

He, however, called for more investments to boost production, adding that NNPC Ltd has been able to turn the narrative around by consistently meeting its cash-call obligations to Joint Venture operations.

He said the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has placed NNPC Ltd in a good position to live up to its responsibility of leading the industry in financing projects.

In his address, Ekperikpe Ekpo, minister of state for petroleum resources (Gas), said the AKK gas pipeline has achieved a significant milestone, marking a major leap in the drive to industrialise Northern Nigeria and strengthen internal gas distribution.

“We are equally optimistic that the OB3 Gas Pipeline and River Niger crossing will reach similar progress shortly, as we work to fully interconnect our national gas grid.”

Regionally, he said the pipeline diplomacy is bearing fruit.

“We are committed to the long-standing West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), which continues to deliver gas from Nigeria to our West African neighbours. The Trans-Atlantic Gas Pipeline, also known as the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP), spanning over 5,000 kilometres and linking over a dozen countries, is advancing steadily.

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“This transformative project will enhance regional integration, boost gas accessibility, and ultimately connect to the European market,” he added.

According to him, Nigeria boasts of one of the largest proven gas reserves in the world with over 200 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves.

“Yet we recognise that value is only created when resources are developed and utilised,” he said.

He noted that through the Decade of Gas initiative, the country is focused on translating its vast gas wealth into tangible socio-economic benefits.

This, he said, includes driving industrialisation, expanding power generation, increasing domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) usage, deepening gas-to-transport adoption, and growing gas export capacity.