The Energy Reforms Monitoring Initiative Africa has commended the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Bashir Ojulari, over progress on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, saying the project could improve energy access, support businesses and stimulate economic activities in Northern Nigeria.
The group said the reported 95 per cent completion of the 614-kilometre pipeline marked significant progress towards the delivery of critical infrastructure expected to transform gas supply and distribution across the region.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Executive Director of the initiative, Dr Patrick Kwame, said Ojulari’s commitment to completing the project reflected the leadership needed to translate Nigeria’s natural gas resources into economic benefits for citizens.
He said the plan to commence gas delivery to Abuja before the end of 2026, followed by Kaduna and Kano in 2027, showed a commitment to moving beyond project announcements to actual delivery.
“Major infrastructure projects are ultimately judged by their impact on people’s lives, not simply by the amount of money invested or the length of pipelines constructed.
“The AKK project has the potential to change how businesses operate, how electricity is generated and how households access energy. We commend Mr Bashir Ojulari for maintaining the focus required to bring this important national investment closer to completion,” the statement quoted Kwame as saying.
The group said reliable gas supply would be critical to businesses and industries that depend on electricity and other energy sources to sustain production.
It noted that improved access to natural gas could enhance power generation, support manufacturing, attract investments in industrial facilities and create employment opportunities.
According to the initiative, the benefits of the project would extend beyond major cities and industrial centres as additional connections are developed to serve more communities and commercial locations.
It also said the expansion of gas infrastructure could support the growth of compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel for transport operators and other users.
Kwame said the project’s impact on ordinary Nigerians would ultimately depend on its ability to improve electricity supply, reduce energy costs for businesses and create employment opportunities.
“For ordinary Nigerians, the value of the AKK pipeline will be measured in more reliable electricity, lower operating pressures on businesses, new employment opportunities and a wider range of energy choices.
“When manufacturers spend less on energy and can operate more predictably, the benefits can extend to workers, suppliers and consumers. This is why the timely completion of the project matters to the country’s economic future,” he said.
The initiative further said the pipeline could strengthen Nigeria’s energy security by reducing the dependence of industrial and power facilities in the North on gas transported over longer distances from southern Nigeria.
The 614-kilometre AKK pipeline is a 40-inch gas transmission system designed to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta in Kogi State through Abuja and Kaduna to Kano, connecting major economic and industrial centres along its route.
The group also highlighted the project’s financing structure, citing Ojulari’s disclosure that the NNPC had raised $1.5bn based on projected pipeline throughput.
It described the financing arrangement as evidence of the potential of commercially viable infrastructure projects to attract investment when investors have confidence in their revenue prospects and long-term value.
However, the initiative said the completion of the main transmission pipeline must be followed by the timely development of distribution networks and facilities required to deliver gas to end-users.
It urged the NNPC management to sustain its commitment to project execution, transparency and accountability to ensure that communities and businesses benefit from the infrastructure.
“The remaining work must receive the same level of attention and urgency that has brought the project to its present stage.
