Nigeria's long-awaited Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project is finally nearing completion, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) announcing that export operations are scheduled to commence in early 2026. This marks a significant milestone for the $2.8 billion infrastructure project, which has faced numerous delays since its inception.
Ministerial Inspection Confirms 2026 Timeline
The revised operational timeline was disclosed by the NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, following a recent inspection tour of the project site. The tour was led by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, and included NNPC’s Executive Vice President for Gas, Power, and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye.
This high-level visit allowed government and industry officials to assess the progress of a project first conceived in 2008. For years, the AKK pipeline has symbolized the nation's challenges in leveraging its enormous gas reserves for concrete economic development, particularly in the northern regions plagued by chronic electricity shortages.
River Niger Crossing: A Critical Milestone Achieved
Ojulari revealed that a major technical hurdle has been overcome: the completion of the main pipeline welding, including the complex River Niger crossing. This section had been a persistent bottleneck, stalling construction for an extended period.
According to Ojulari, this breakthrough has cleared the path for the final stages of the project. "With the mainline welding completed, including the River Niger crossing, we are now clear to move into the final connection phase," he stated after briefing President Bola Tinubu. "Once activated, this pipeline will bring gas in its full form into the northern part of Nigeria."
Catalyst for Power, Industry, and Job Creation
The AKK pipeline is designed to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta in Kogi State through Kaduna to Kano. Its primary purpose is to supply gas for power generation, fertiliser production, and various gas-based industries.
Ojulari emphasized that the project's impact extends far beyond energy delivery, framing it as a cornerstone for widespread industrialization in northern Nigeria. "This is not just about energy," he explained. "It is about fertiliser plants, power generation, and gas-based industries in Kaduna, Kano, Abuja, and Ajaokuta. We expect industrial parks to spring up around these corridors."
Energy analysts predict that improved access to affordable gas could revitalize the region's manufacturing sector, lower production costs, and generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Broader Oil and Gas Targets Underpin Reforms
Beyond the pipeline, Ojulari outlined NNPC's broader production goals. He noted that Nigeria's crude oil output is projected to increase to 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2026, up from approximately 1.7 million bpd currently. Gas production is also expected to continue its steady rise.
He credited this renewed momentum to the reforms enacted under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which has transformed NNPC into a more commercially focused entity. Ojulari also reiterated President Tinubu's ambition to attract $30 billion in new oil and gas investments by 2030 and to boost crude oil production to 2 million bpd by 2027.
When fully operational, the AKK pipeline network is poised to significantly enhance Nigeria's energy security, expand electricity supply, and unlock new economic potential across multiple states. For a project long synonymous with delays, its imminent completion signals a pivotal shift from promise to tangible delivery, raising hopes that natural gas will finally fulfill its central role in powering Nigeria's industrial and economic future.
