Dangote Group intends to embark on a $3 billion project to construct a 540 km pipeline that will link the Niger Delta and the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos. This was declared by the Chief Strategy Officer, Dangote Group, Abdul Muktar, during an annual roundtable session of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (LCCI) Power Sector Group.

According to him, the project is expected to come online by Q1 of 2019 and is aimed at transporting 3billion cubic metres of gas per day. He added that the pipeline, which is a game changer in the industry, will be constructed offshore as a way of addressing the issue of pipeline vandalism, which is the major challenge being faced by the energy sector.

Muktar said the project is essential at this time, as it will provide quality and affordable energy to the manufacturing industry and enable the country to focus less on oil and the gas.

“The need to focus on the manufacturing sector is paramount,” he said.

Due to nature of the country’s economy, the oil sector fell by 22.1% and for Nigeria to recuperate from the recession, it has to focus on manufacturing, he stated.

Although the country is a major gas producer, it still has a shortfall of gas which is a big problem for the power sector.

Anita Fatunji