After years of delays and shifting deadlines, the $2.8 billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline is finally closing in on completion. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) says the massive 614-kilometre project is now 86.05% done and on track for mechanical completion by the end of November.

The pipeline, which was first flagged off in 2020, is designed to transport up to 2.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily to power plants and industries across Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and surrounding areas. NNPC’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, described it as a “game changer” that will revive struggling industries, create jobs, and spark economic growth, especially in northern Nigeria.

Over 1,900 workers have already been directly engaged on the project, with thousands more expected to benefit once it becomes operational. Industrial parks are also being planned along the route in areas like Ajaokuta and Kano.

Officials say the AKK pipeline aligns with Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” initiative and will help cut fuel costs, reduce carbon emissions, and support agricultural processing, manufacturing, and even regional gas exports. The most difficult engineering hurdle—the River Niger crossing—has already been completed, giving NNPC confidence in the revised delivery timeline.

Full commercial launch is expected between 2025 and 2026, with the pipeline seen as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s future energy security and economic diversification.