AKK: 6 Years, Multiple Deadlines, No Gas


 AKK: 6 Years, Multiple Deadlines, No Gas

By:

Joshua Bilkisu Swatkasah 


The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project, conceived under the Nigerian Gas Master Plan and flagged off in 2020, was designed to boost gas supply to northern Nigeria, support industrialisation and improve electricity generation. The 614-kilometre, 40-inch pipeline, valued at about $2.8 billion, was originally scheduled for completion in June 2022. However, after several deadline extensions, the project remains unfinished six years later. Although the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) says the pipeline has reached 98 per cent completion, it is still awaiting the completion of key above-ground facilities needed for operations.


NNPCL said pipeline laying from Ajaokuta in Kogi State to Kano has been completed, with current efforts focused on constructing gas stations, monitoring facilities and other support infrastructure. The company explained that these facilities are essential for safe gas transmission and off-take. While no fixed commissioning date has been announced, NNPCL says it is targeting September 2026 for the first phase of gas delivery, beginning with the Ajaokuta-Gwagwalada axis before extending to other locations as supporting infrastructure becomes operational.


Investigations showed that several critical facilities, especially the Kano terminal project in Tamburawa, remain largely incomplete despite the pipeline reaching the area. The site has progressed little beyond fencing, security installations and temporary structures, while construction of the main terminal has yet to begin in earnest. Similar delays in ancillary infrastructure have slowed the project's readiness, even though pipeline installation has largely been completed across Kogi, Kaduna and Kano states.


Project officials and engineers attributed the repeated delays to insecurity, funding challenges and difficult terrain. They said kidnapping of workers, attacks on project sites, the challenging crossing of the River Niger and rocky landscapes significantly slowed construction. Engineers noted that advanced Horizontal Directional Drilling technology was eventually used to overcome the River Niger crossing, while improved security later allowed work to resume. These setbacks contributed to the project's failure to meet several completion deadlines announced between 2022 and 2025.


Energy experts warned that the prolonged delay is increasing project costs and weakening Nigeria's economic and strategic goals. They said the AKK pipeline is expected to support power generation, revive industries, create jobs and strengthen Nigeria's position in regional gas exports, including the proposed Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline. Analysts added that continued delays have raised financing costs due to inflation and currency depreciation, while also affecting investor confidence and slowing the country's ambition of becoming a gas-driven economy.


#NexviewTv#NexviewNews#NexviewUpdate#2026#Breakingnews#Abeokuta#Kaduna#Kano#AKK#GasPipelines#North#NNPCL#Nigeria

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gunshots As Rival Cult Groups Clash At Rivers Varsity

Image
  "Gunshots As Rival Cult Groups Clash At Rivers Varsity" By Joshua Bilkisu Swatkasah  Several gunshots were heard at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as rival cult groups clashed during the institution’s Jean Carnival. The confrontation, reportedly involving members of the Vikings and KKK confraternities, caused students to scamper for safety. Sources said the groups allegedly brought in members from outside the university as they struggled for control of the campus. The incident has renewed concerns over recurring cult-related violence at the university, with reports of similar clashes in the past two years. A notable incident occurred in August 2024, when suspected members of the Black Axe and Vikings groups reportedly clashed, leaving a student in a coma. However, no death was recorded in Tuesday’s incident. The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the clash, saying its operatives responded promptly and brought th...
Read more

17 Bandits, 10 Police Officers Killed In Zamfara-Kebbi Clash

Image
  17 Bandits, 10 Police Officers Killed In Zamfara-Kebbi Clash By Joshua Bilkisu Swatkasah  Seventeen suspected bandits and 10 police officers have been killed during a gun battle between security personnel and armed men who moved from Zamfara State into Kebbi State. The clash occurred around the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Monday. Residents said the bandits, numbering about 240 and travelling on over 200 motorcycles, moved from Sangeko Gap in Dansadau District of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State before entering Kebbi. A resident, Musa Sani, said the group camped overnight in a forest between Kakihum and Makuku before advancing towards Maburya. According to police authorities, the armed men were intercepted by security operatives while moving through the area, leading to a fierce confrontation. Kebbi Police spokesperson, DSP Bashir Usman, confirmed that 17 suspected bandits were neutralised, while four motorcycles belonging to...
Read more

Opposition Lawmakers Protest As Reps Pass State Police Bill

Image
  Opposition Lawmakers Protest As Reps Pass State Police Bill By Joshua Bilkisu Swatkasah  The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, paving the way for the establishment of state police across the country. The executive bill, transmitted by President Bola Tinubu, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create the legal framework for state police as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria's security architecture. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen said 311 lawmakers participated in the process, exceeding the two-thirds constitutional threshold required for constitutional amendments. The bill's passage, however, sparked controversy after members of the minority caucus staged a walkout, accusing the House leadership of violating constitutional and parliamentary procedures. The lawmakers argued that the bill was passed through a voice vote without the mandatory clause-by-clause consideration and cl...
Read more