The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has completed welding work on the main line of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, clearing a major obstacle to gas deliveries to northern Nigeria.
The 614-kilometer pipeline is now ready to move toward mechanical completion. Pipeline tie-ins and related works are expected to begin early next year.
"This is not just about energy," said Bashir Ojulari, NNPC CEO. "It's about industrialization, including fertilizer production, power generation and gas-based industries in Kaduna, Kano, Abuja and Ajaokuta."
Estimated at $2.8 billion, the AKK pipeline forms a central pillar of Nigeria's strategy to expand domestic gas utilization. Once operational, it is expected to feed power plants, industrial users and commercial facilities across the northern corridor, helping reduce reliance on diesel and improve power security.