NNPCL TO ACTIVATE $2.8BN AJAOKUTA–KADUNA–KANO GAS PIPELINE FOR EXPORT IN 2026
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bashir Ojulari, has announced that the $2.8 billion Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline is expected to be activated for export in early 2026.
Ojulari disclosed this after a recent inspection tour of the project by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, accompanied by senior NNPCL officials, including the Executive Vice President for Gas, Power and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye.
Speaking after briefing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday, the NNPCL boss said the company had completed the welding of the pipeline’s main line, including the technically challenging River Niger crossing, which had stalled progress on the project for years.
“We have been able to complete the welding of the main line of the AKK pipeline. In summer, we successfully crossed the River Niger, which was a struggle for many years. With this milestone achieved, we can begin making all the necessary connections early next year,” Ojulari said.
He explained that once operational, the AKK pipeline would transport gas across northern Nigeria, boosting industrial and economic activities in key locations.
“This project is not just about energy; it is about industrialisation,” Ojulari said. “It will support fertiliser production, power generation and gas-based industries in Kaduna, Kano, Abuja and Ajaokuta, with the potential for industrial parks to emerge.”
Ojulari also outlined NNPCL’s production outlook, noting that crude oil output is projected to increase to 1.8 million barrels per day in 2026 from about 1.7 million barrels per day this year, while gas production is expected to continue its upward trajectory.
He attributed the improved operational performance of the company to reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act, which have repositioned NNPCL as a commercially driven entity operating without reliance on federal budgetary allocations.
According to him, President Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to attracting $30 billion in new investments by 2030 and increasing oil production to two million barrels per day by 2027.
Ojulari said the completion of the AKK pipeline network would enhance energy security, expand economic opportunities and significantly improve power supply, particularly in northern Nigeria, where decades of infrastructure deficits have limited industrial growth.
Conceived in 2008, the AKK pipeline is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s gas development strategy and is expected to play a critical role in driving national industrialisation and economic growth.
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