NNPC Completes Main Line of Strategic AKK Gas Pipeline to Boost Northern Supply

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced the completion of the main pipeline section of the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas project, a critical milestone in efforts to expand natural gas supply to northern Nigeria.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bayo Ojulari, disclosed the achievement on Sunday following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

Ojulari stated that with the main line now complete, the project will advance to its next phase, which involves connecting distribution infrastructure to deliver gas to key cities and industrial areas across the north.

He highlighted that one of the most significant technical challenges, crossing the River Niger, was successfully overcome earlier this year. “You remember sometime in summer, we were able to cross the River Niger, which had been a struggle for many years,” Ojulari noted.

“By completing this main line, we can begin to make all the connections in the earlier parts of next year,” he explained. “This will bring gas in its full form into the northern part of Nigeria; Kaduna, Kano, Ajaokuta, and Abuja, where it will support industrialization, power generation, and gas-based industries such as fertilizer plants.”

The approximately 614-kilometer pipeline is designed to transport up to 2.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, addressing a long-standing energy infrastructure gap in the region.

Ojulari also pointed to broader operational improvements within NNPC, citing a rise in oil production from about 1.5 million barrels per day in 2024 to over 1.7 million in 2025. Gas production similarly increased from 6.5 billion to over 7 billion standard cubic feet daily, gains he attributed to internal restructuring and strategic investments.

Looking ahead, Ojulari said NNPC will focus on further increasing production and attracting new investments, with a target of reaching at least 1.8 million barrels per day in 2026. He added that President Tinubu has directed the company to secure $30 billion in investments by 2030 and boost oil output to 2 million barrels per day by 2027.

The AKK pipeline is positioned as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s strategy to enhance domestic gas utilization, stimulate industrial growth, and strengthen national energy security.