By Ayomide Otitoju
The long-delayed $2.8 billion Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline is expected to begin supplying natural gas to Abuja by July, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
A spokesperson for the commission said the milestone marks a significant step in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure development and energy transition strategy.
The 614-kilometre pipeline is designed to transport over 2.2 billion cubic feet of gas per day, supplying power plants and industries across northern Nigeria while reducing dependence on diesel and fuel oil.
First conceived in 2008, the project has faced multiple delays, missing earlier completion targets set for 2023 and the fourth quarter of 2025. Construction, which began in 2020, encountered setbacks due to funding constraints and engineering challenges, including the crossing of the River Niger.
However, sources familiar with the project indicate that construction is now over 90 percent complete, with work at an advanced stage.
Gas supply through the AKK pipeline will be sourced from southern production hubs via its connection to the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline, forming part of a broader effort to expand domestic gas utilisation.
The project is a key component of Nigeria’s plan to transition toward cleaner energy and improve power supply to industrial and commercial centres in the northern region.
