By Osordi Ayomide and Usman Yahaya Ismail
Nigeria is on the verge of a major energy breakthrough as the long-awaited Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) pipeline nears completion, with officials confirming that natural gas supply to Abuja could begin as early as July 2026.
This domestic milestone arrives alongside significant progress on the international stage, as an intergovernmental agreement for the $25 billion Nigeria–Morocco gas pipeline is also set for signing this year.
A senior official from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) expressed optimism that the $2.8 billion AKK project has reached its final stages.
“We are hopeful that by July, gas will begin to flow to Abuja through the AKK pipeline,” the official stated, marking a pivotal moment for a project first conceived in 2008.
The 614-kilometre pipeline is designed to transport over 2.2 billion cubic feet of gas daily, drawing from southern production fields via the interconnected OB3 network.
Although construction began in 2020 and faced technical hurdles most notably the complex River Niger crossing,industry sources report the project is now over 90% complete.
Once operational, the infrastructure is expected to drastically expand domestic gas usage, bolster power generation, and reduce industrial reliance on expensive diesel and fuel oil.
Complementing this domestic expansion is the advancement of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline*, a massive 6,900-kilometre venture linking Nigeria to Morocco and eventually Europe.
S senior official of Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), Amina Benkhadra confirmed that the signing of an intergovernmental agreement this year will pave the way for a regional governing body based in Nigeria.
This ambitious project, backed by ECOWAS, aims to deliver 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually.
Implementation will be overseen by a joint project company formed by ONHYM and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
Developed in modular phases, the pipeline is projected to achieve its first gas deliveries by 2031, starting with segments connecting Morocco to Mauritania and Senegal.
Together, the completion of the AKK pipeline and the formalization of the Nigeria–Morocco deal signal a dual-track strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s internal energy security while positioning the nation as a strategic energy corridor for the African continent and global markets.