• Nigeria’s AKK gas pipeline to launch July 2026
• $2.8 billion project links southern fields to north
• Pipeline to boost CNG use, cut fuel costs

The AKK gas pipeline, a backbone project for Nigeria’s domestic gas expansion, is due to come online in July 2026, Olalekan Ogunleye, executive vice president for gas, power and new energy at the NNPC, said on Feb. 26

He spoke at an investment forum in Abuja organized by Portland Gas, an operator developing gas distribution infrastructure.

The 614-kilometer pipeline, estimated to cost $2.8 billion, will connect southern gas fields to major demand hubs in central and northern Nigeria, including Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Ajaokuta. NNPC describes it as a cornerstone of the national “Decade of Gas” strategy, which seeks to expand the use of natural gas in power generation, industry and transport.

At the end of December, NNPC announced the completion of welding work, one of the final construction stages. The main technical hurdles have now been cleared, including the crossing of the Niger River, long considered one of the most sensitive phases of the project.

One of the project’s primary objectives is to support compressed natural gas (CNG) production. Authorities estimate that operators who switch to CNG cut fuel costs by 40% to 60%, significantly lowering transport expenses and improving competitiveness.

Portland Gas plans to deploy an LNG and CNG production unit to supply mobile stations and refueling networks in areas not yet connected to the main grid. The company said NNPC assured it of gas supply once the pipeline becomes operational. Officials did not disclose the volumes involved.

With more than 209 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves, Nigeria holds one of Africa’s largest gas endowments. Yet a substantial share of production is still flared due to limited transport infrastructure. The AKK pipeline forms part of a broader effort to monetize gas resources more effectively, reduce losses and support industrial development in northern Nigeria.

Olivier de Souza