The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the continuation and fast-tracking of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline project is a step towards unleashing the immense economic potential of Northern Nigeria and the country as whole.
Idris stated this in Kaduna on Friday during a site visit to the River Kaduna site of the AKK project in company of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun; the Minister of State, Gas Resources, Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo; and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister said, “The AKK project is focused on unleashing the immense economic potential of Northern Nigeria.
“The gas that will be transported will bring the much-needed energy to homes, businesses and industries and will also be available for enabling transportation and bringing down its cost.
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“The continuation and fast-tracking of this project – Nigeria’s biggest domestic gas pipeline project so far—by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration is a testament to the president’s commitment to the industrialisation and economic prosperity of every part of the country.”
He hailed the project as a crucial component of Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic prosperity agenda under President Tinubu.
Furthermore, the minister pointed out the critical link between economic development and security, stressing that many security challenges in Northern Nigeria stemmed from economic deprivation which could be alleviated by job creation and economic prosperity.
He further said, “Energising homes, farms and industries are pivotal for large-scale job creation,” and emphasised the project’s potential to significantly boost the agriculture value chain—Northern Nigeria’s economic backbone.
Idris highlighted the nationwide impact of similar projects, mentioning that last month saw the commissioning of three vital gas infrastructure projects in the Niger Delta.
He announced that another visit would take place on Saturday to Rivers State to inspect the OB3 Pipeline River Niger Crossing Project; another transformational gas initiative.
He added that the AKK would boost the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), saying that it had already attracted over $50m in private investments.
He said, “This initiative aims to establish CNG conversion and refuelling facilities across the nation, furthering Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging its abundant gas resources.”
Idris expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s vision for the “Decade of Gas” initiative which sought to harness Nigeria’s gas resources for comprehensive national development.
Speaking in the same vein, Mr Edun described the AKK as the pipeline of prosperity which was very dear to the president because it would deliver the critical infrastructure needed to trigger the nation’s economic growth and industrialisation.
He said, “The AKK gas pipeline is crucial for this administration and its delivery in line with Mr President’s strategy of bringing prosperity to the people.”
Also speaking, Mr Ekpo said the pipeline was part of the federal government’s many efforts to harness the nation’s abundant gas resources towards improving power generation, revamping ailing industries and creating employment opportunities in the country.
Earlier, Mr Kyari assured that the project would be delivered by the first quarter of 2025 as major segments of the job had been completed.
He said, “Without promising too much, we assure you that this project will be delivered on schedule. Our mission is to work towards delivering it by December, this year. But we are confident this project will be delivered by the first quarter of 2025.”
Kyari, who noted that NNPCL recognised the strategic importance and enormous value of the project to Nigeria’s economy, stressed that the company was bankrolling the project on the back of its own balance sheet.
In his speech, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Uba Sani, represented by his Deputy, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, said the completion of the AKK pipeline would herald the much-needed economic and industrial revival in the state.
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