Nigeria’s Ajaokuta‑Kaduna‑Kano (AKK) pipeline is slated for activation in early 2026, according to Bashir Ojulari, Group CEO of NNPC Ltd. The $2.8 billion project, which has been under development since 2008, is central to the country’s strategy to harness its vast gas reserves for economic growth. Its completion is expected to transform the northern region, which has long suffered from chronic power shortages and a lack of energy infrastructure.
During a recent site tour, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo, accompanied by Ojulari and Executive Vice President (Gas, Power, and New Energy) Olalekan Ogunleye, assessed the project’s progress. Ojulari later briefed President Bola Tinubu, noting that the main line of the pipeline—including the critical River Niger crossing—has been finished, paving the way for connection early next year.
Once operational, the AKK pipeline will supply gas to northern Nigeria, driving industrialisation and supporting the development of fertilizer plants, power generation, and gas‑based industries in cities such as Kaduna, Kano, Abuja, and Ajaokuta. Ojulari stressed that the pipeline’s impact extends beyond energy, as it is expected to stimulate industrial growth and create new economic opportunities.
NNPC has set ambitious production targets, aiming to raise oil output to 1.8 million barrels per day in 2026, up from 1.7 million this year, while gas production continues to grow. The company’s ability to operate as a profit‑driven entity, following structural reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act, has enabled it to pursue these goals.
President Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to attract $30 billion in new investments by 2030 and to increase oil output to 2 million barrels per day by 2027. The completion of the AKK pipeline is expected to play a significant role in achieving these objectives, delivering economic opportunities, boosting power supply, and driving national industrialisation. Upon completion, the pipeline network will usher in a new era of energy and economic security for Nigeria.
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