The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has announced that it plans to complete the $2.59bn Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline project in 24 months.

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It stated that the construction phase of the 40-inch by 614km pipeline project, which is being inaugurated virtually by President Muhammed Buhari, would boost domestic gas utilisation.

The NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Kennie Obateru, said the project was a section of the Trans-Nigeria Gas Pipeline with the capacity to transport about 2.2 billion cubic feet of gas per day.

The virtual inauguration by Buhari would be done with simultaneous links to two locations in Rigachukun, Kaduna State and Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State.

NNPC said the AKK pipeline would originate from Ajaokuta, in Kogi State and traverse Abuja, Niger, Kaduna and terminate at Kano.

It said the project would boost domestic utilisation of natural gas for Nigeria’s socio-economic development when completed.

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The Group Chairman of Oilserv Limited, Dr Emeka Okwuosa, said the pipeline would boost local industrial capacity and technical expertise.

In a statement on Monday, Okwuosa described the project as significant infrastructure development for the domestic economy.

According to the statement, the Oilserv consortium is slated to deliver the first 200-kilometre phase of the pipeline.