The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced a pivotal achievement in the construction of the $2.8 billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, confirming the successful crossing of the River Niger—one of the project’s most challenging phases.
The milestone was disclosed on NNPC’s official X (formerly Twitter) account and further elaborated by Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Bayo Ojulari during his keynote speech at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week Conference in Abuja.
A Transformational Energy Project
The 614-kilometer, 40-inch pipeline—stretching from Ajaokuta in Kogi State to Kano—is one of Nigeria’s most critical energy infrastructure developments. Once completed, it is expected to:
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Enhance domestic gas supply
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Boost power generation
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Drive industrial growth, particularly in Northern Nigeria
The River Niger crossing was a major technical and logistical hurdle, requiring specialized engineering solutions and financial restructuring. Ojulari described it as “one of the biggest challenges” of the project but confirmed its successful completion, marking a significant step toward the pipeline’s 2025 delivery deadline.
Pipeline on Track for 2025 Completion
Ojulari, delivering his first major address since his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, expressed confidence that the AKK pipeline will be fully operational by December 2025. Once functional, it will:
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Supply gas to industries and power plants
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Stimulate economic growth in underserved regions
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Reduce reliance on imported fuel
Nigeria Achieves 100% Pipeline Security
In another major announcement, Ojulari revealed that Nigeria has attained 100% pipeline availability as of June 29, 2025—a feat he called “previously unthinkable.” This milestone follows years of vandalism and security challenges that disrupted oil and gas transportation.
“Through collaboration with the federal government, military, and industry players, we’ve secured our pipelines,” he stated. However, he noted that despite this progress, crude oil production remains below capacity at 1.35 million barrels per day (bpd), rising to 1.6 million bpd with condensates.
Call for Increased Investment
Ojulari emphasized that while infrastructure bottlenecks have been resolved, Nigeria must now attract fresh investments to ramp up production.
“The pipelines are ready—now we need the oil. This is the time for bold investments,” he urged.
