Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), has concluded a high-level inspection tour of the starting point of the landmark Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to the timely delivery of the strategic infrastructure.
Ekpo was accompanied on the tour by Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and Olalekan Ogunleye, the company’s Executive Vice President (Gas, Power and New Energy). The inspection was conducted on Thursday.
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Speaking during the visit, Ekpo said the AKK Gas Pipeline, when completed, would unlock vast economic opportunities across northern Nigeria, strengthen power supply, and accelerate national industrialisation.
According to him, the project represents a major step toward energy and economic security, positioning gas as a critical driver of inclusive and sustainable growth.
In his remarks, Ojulari described the AKK Pipeline as a bridge between Nigeria’s industrial past and its future, noting that gas would serve as a transition fuel to revive manufacturing, deepen energy access, and stimulate sustainable development nationwide. He stressed that the project aligns with NNPC Limited’s commercial mandate and the Federal Government’s broader economic transformation agenda.
The AKK Gas Pipeline is expected to deliver far-reaching economic dividends to northern Nigeria, including the revival and expansion of industries through reliable gas supply that will attract new investments and resuscitate dormant manufacturing hubs along the corridor, particularly in Kaduna and Kano.
The project is also expected to improve power generation by increasing gas availability for electricity production, thereby reducing outages and supporting businesses, small enterprises, and households.
In addition, it is projected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across construction, operations, and downstream gas-based industries, providing employment opportunities for youths and skilled workers.
Furthermore, increased access to domestic gas is expected to lower energy costs by reducing dependence on expensive alternative fuels, cutting production costs for industries, and enhancing competitiveness.
The pipeline is also projected to promote regional economic integration by stimulating trade and investment across northern Nigeria, strengthening the region’s contribution to the national economy.
The inspection tour underscores the strategic national importance of the AKK Gas Pipeline and reaffirms the resolve of the Federal Government and NNPC Limited to ensure its completion as Nigeria leverages gas to drive industrial growth and balanced regional development.
