The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline project currently under construction will help revamp about 232 industries, create employment opportunities and lead to the development of three Independent Power Plants in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano. 

Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, said this on Thursday at the Gas Sector Stakeholders’ Forum in Kano State. 

Kyari said in a statement issued in Abuja by NNPC spokesperson, Kennie Obateru, that the ongoing 614km gas pipeline would be delivered on schedule and would serve as gas supply link to other African countries and Europe upon completion. 

He was quoted as saying, “This project has been on the drawing board for 30 years and the dream was to have gas delivered to Europe across the Trans-Sahara route. 

“What we are seeing today would deliver at least two billion standard cubic feet of gas to the domestic market at the first instance with the potential to increase it.
“What this means is that it will de-bottleneck the gas supply network in the entire country.” 

Kyari said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had provided all the necessary support and incentives to deliver on this project. 
The NNPC boss further noted that the AKK gas project would boost the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, adding that it would reduce the nation’s carbon footprint as part of measures to cut down on global warming and climate change. 

In his keynote address, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said the forum would ensure collaboration among stakeholders to kick-start activities that would guarantee the usage of the gas to be delivered through the AKK pipeline when completed. 

Punch Ng