Nigeria’s long-awaited Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline is on track to deliver first gas by July 2026, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has confirmed — a milestone that could fundamentally alter the energy equation for Nigeria’s north and unlock a wave of industrial investment.
NNPCL’s Executive Vice President for Gas, Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, made the announcement in Abuja, describing the 614-kilometre pipeline as “the heart of midstream transformation” for a region that has long lagged behind in energy infrastructure. The Ajaokuta-Gwagwalada segment is set for commissioning first, linking northern industrial zones to Nigeria’s gas fields and tackling chronic national energy deficits.
The pipeline, Ogunleye said, will unlock northern industrial demand, power competitive electricity generation, drive manufacturing growth, and support the expansion of Auto-CNG and Mini-LNG facilities — while creating jobs across the entire value chain. Gwagwalada, positioned at a strategic transport intersection linking Kogi State and key northern hubs, is already emerging as a logistics and commercial centre benefiting from the pipeline’s anticipated arrival.
The AKK’s commissioning is expected to fuel vehicles, power industries, reduce crippling diesel dependence, and strengthen Nigeria’s overall energy resilience. MD/CEO of Portland Gas Limited, Folajimi Mohammed, reaffirmed the private sector’s readiness to invest alongside the infrastructure. “The Nigerian gas sector is ripe for investments and Portland Gas is ready to make these leading investments and make them succeed,” he said.
Source: dailytrust.com