The Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline has emerged as one of the flagship energy projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, symbolising his determination to expand Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and unlock industrial potential across the country. Conceived as part of the Decade of Gas initiative, the $2.8 billion project is a 614-kilometre, 40-inch gas transmission line designed to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta in Kogi State through Abuja and Kaduna up to Kano. It stands at the heart of the government’s strategy to harness Nigeria’s abundant natural gas for power generation, industrialisation, and economic growth.
When President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, the AKK pipeline was experiencing delays and missed deadlines. However, his administration quickly renewed focus on the project, tasking the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and its partners with delivering clear milestones. Within months, a new sense of urgency was injected into the project, backed by consistent presidential support and funding guarantees. This decisive intervention laid the groundwork for the progress that has since been recorded.
One of the most celebrated breakthroughs under PBAT was the completion of the technically challenging River Niger crossing in mid-2025. This milestone, which had previously slowed down work on the mainline, was a turning point. Successfully laying the pipeline beneath the massive river showcased both local and international engineering expertise and reinforced Tinubu’s message that the AKK was not another abandoned project but a priority for his government.
By July 2025, the AKK pipeline had recorded remarkable progress, with over 83 per cent of the mainline completed. Welds, road crossings, and river crossings had been largely finalised, paving the way for what industry stakeholders described as “mechanical completion.” This stage, expected by November 2025, means that the physical pipeline infrastructure will be ready, leaving only testing, certification, and commissioning before gas begins to flow.
