Energy Reforms Group Commends Ojulari’s Leadership as AKK Pipeline Nears Completion, Says Project Will Improve Lives of Ordinary Nigerians

The Energy Reforms Monitoring Initiative Africa has commended Bashir Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, for his commitment to completing the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, describing the project as a major step towards improving energy access, supporting businesses and stimulating economic activities across Northern Nigeria.

The energy group said Ojulari’s determination to move the project towards completion reflected the kind of leadership required to deliver critical national infrastructure and translate Nigeria’s natural gas resources into tangible benefits for citizens.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Dr Patrick Kwame, executive director of the initiative, said the reported 95 per cent completion of the pipeline represented significant progress on a project expected to reshape gas supply and distribution across the northern region.

He said the commitment to begin delivering gas to Abuja before the end of 2026, followed by Kaduna and Kano in 2027, demonstrated a clear focus on moving beyond project announcements to actual delivery.

“Major infrastructure projects are ultimately judged by their impact on people’s lives, not simply by the amount of money invested or the length of pipelines constructed. The AKK project has the potential to change how businesses operate, how electricity is generated and how households access energy. We commend Mr Bayo Ojulari for maintaining the focus required to bring this important national investment closer to completion,” the statement said.

The group noted that reliable gas supply would be particularly important to businesses and industries that depend on electricity and other energy sources to sustain production.

It said improved access to natural gas could help power plants operate more efficiently, support manufacturing, encourage investment in industrial facilities and create opportunities for employment.

According to the initiative, the project’s benefits would extend beyond major cities and industrial centres as additional connections are developed to reach more communities and commercial locations.

It added that expanding gas infrastructure could also support the growth of compressed natural gas (CNG), providing transport operators and other users with an alternative to petrol and diesel.

“For ordinary Nigerians, the value of the AKK pipeline will be measured in more reliable electricity, lower operating pressures on businesses, new employment opportunities and a wider range of energy choices. When manufacturers spend less on energy and can operate more predictably, the benefits can extend to workers, suppliers and consumers. This is why the timely completion of the project matters to the country’s economic future,” Kwame said.

The initiative also highlighted the project’s potential to strengthen energy security by reducing the dependence of northern industrial and power facilities on gas transported over longer distances from southern Nigeria.

The 614-kilometre AKK pipeline, a 40-inch gas transmission system, is designed to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta in Kogi State through Abuja and Kaduna to Kano, connecting major economic and industrial centres along its route.

The group said the project’s financing structure was also significant, noting Ojulari’s disclosure that NNPC had raised $1.5 billion based on projected pipeline throughput.

It described the financing as an indication of the potential of commercially viable infrastructure to attract capital when investors have confidence in the project’s revenue prospects and long-term value.

However, the initiative stressed that completing the main pipeline should be followed by the timely construction of distribution connections and facilities required to deliver gas to end-users.

It urged NNPC to sustain its commitment to project execution, transparency and accountability, while ensuring that the infrastructure delivers the benefits promised to communities and businesses.

“The remaining work must receive the same level of attention and urgency that has brought the project to its present stage. A completed transmission pipeline must translate into actual gas supply for power plants, factories and other users. We encourage Ojulari and his management team to maintain this momentum until the infrastructure becomes fully operational and Nigerians begin to experience its economic benefits,” the statement added.

The group said the AKK project should be treated as part of a broader national commitment to developing Nigeria’s gas resources, improving energy access and creating the infrastructure needed for sustainable industrial growth.

It called on relevant government institutions, investors and industry stakeholders to support the completion of the project and the development of additional connections to underserved parts of the country.