The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has unveiled wide-ranging investment and business opportunities along the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline corridor, reaffirming its commitment to accelerating domestic gas utilisation and driving Nigeria’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) revolution.
The opportunities were presented during the 2026 Energy Business Development Forum on the AKK Gas Pipeline held at the Government House in Minna, Niger State, on Thursday. The forum, themed “Accelerating Domestic Gas Utilisation and Driving the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Revolution along the AKK Corridor,” attracted state governments, community leaders, private investors and key players in the energy sector.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy at NNPC Limited, Olalekan Ogunleye, disclosed that the AKK Gas Pipeline has reached Abuja and is scheduled for phased commissioning later this year.
He further revealed that pipeline laying has been completed in the Kano axis of the project, while work on the Niger State section is expected to be concluded before the end of the year.
Ogunleye described the AKK pipeline as a transformative national infrastructure that will unlock industrial development, boost domestic gas utilisation, enhance energy security and create significant economic opportunities for businesses and host communities along the corridor.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State, in his remarks, said the state government has already designated an Industrial Development Park within the 1,000-square-kilometre AKK corridor to harness the economic benefits of the project.
According to the governor, Niger State’s unique combination of abundant gas resources, hydropower and solar energy positions it as an attractive destination for agro-allied industries, petrochemical plants, fertiliser production and other energy-intensive investments.
He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for investors and partnering with NNPC Limited to maximise the economic potential of the gas pipeline.
The AKK Gas Pipeline is a 614-kilometre, 40-inch linear gas transmission pipeline stretching from Ajaokuta in Kogi State to Kano, with intermediate and terminal gas facilities designed to transport natural gas to industrial and commercial off-takers across the corridor.
Stakeholders at the forum expressed optimism that the project would stimulate industrialisation, create employment opportunities, deepen domestic gas utilisation and support Nigeria’s transition to cleaner and more affordable energy through expanded CNG adoption.
