The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced the successful completion of the core section of the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, a project long anticipated to open new energy and economic opportunities in the northern region of Nigeria.
Company leadership revealed this milestone after discussions with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, confirming that the welding of the main line is finished and ready for the next phase of development.
This part of the pipeline marks a crucial achievement for Nigeria’s energy infrastructure. The main line connects key nodes extending from Ajaokuta through Abuja and Kaduna to Kano, covering hundreds of kilometres across the country.
According to NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, overcoming technical hurdles in building the pipeline, including crossing the River Niger was a significant part of reaching this stage.
“You remember sometime in summer, we were able to cross the River Niger which has been a struggle for many years,” Ojulari said, acknowledging one of the most challenging aspects of the project.
With the main line completed, NNPC officials say the next priority is to connect the supporting infrastructure that will allow the pipeline to begin delivering gas to power plants, industries, and other users in northern Nigeria.
“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,” Ojulari added.
The gas pipeline is expected to deliver natural gas in its full form to major northern cities such as Kaduna and Kano, and also to Ajaokuta and Abuja where it can be used for industrial parks, gas-based industries, fertilizer production, and electricity generation.
The AKK project, stretching over 600 kilometres, is designed to transport large volumes of gas from production areas in the south to demand centres in the north. This is seen as a key step in addressing persistent energy shortages that have historically constrained industrial growth and reliable power supply in these regions.
Recent energy reforms and structural changes within NNPC have also corresponded with measurable improvements in output. The company notes that its oil production has risen from about 1.5 million barrels per day in the previous year to more than 1.7 million barrels per day recently. Gas production has also climbed from around 6.5 billion standard cubic feet per day to over 7 billion.
To sustain the momentum, NNPC plans to continue attracting investment and expanding production over the coming years. The company’s leadership emphasised that increasing gas and oil supplies remains a strategic priority for 2026 as the nation seeks to strengthen supply chains and stimulate economic activities in multiple sectors.
President Tinubu has also indicated the importance of energy infrastructure in broader national development goals, encouraging efforts to draw in billions of dollars in new investmentand support broader industrialisation plans across Nigeria.
The AKK pipeline is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s energy security, reduce reliance on imported fuels, and lower electricity costs, boosting manufacturing and job creation. Increased gas supply could attract industrial investment to northern Nigeria, helping diversify the economy beyond oil and stimulate long-term economic growth.
