Oilserv: AKK Gas Pipeline Project Set for Completion in July 2024

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Oilserv Group of Companies, Emeka Okwuosa, who heads the company executing segment ‘A’ of the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project, has assured that the project would be completed by July 2024.

While responding to questions from the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who was on an inspection tour at the Pai River crossing session in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Okwuosa said all hands were already on the deck to ensure the deadline is met.
Okwuosa noted that the Pai River crossing was peculiar, hence the deployment of Horizontal Directional Drilling Technology (HDDT) to ensure a perfect execution of the project.

“From our schedule, I know we are finishing next year. On the main pipeline itself that will deliver the gas, we are optimistic that by July, or August next year, we would be done.

“We have our schedule as far as where we are today and we are working hard to mitigate and make sure we deliver. A lot of what we have to deal with in the next six months will be the river crossings area,” he noted.
He commended the federal government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the minister for their support and commitment to ensure the speedy completion of the project.

“I can assure you that whatever we are doing will not be possible without the support of NNPC and we are always in sync and they support and raise the funds to keep the project ongoing.
“Our commitment is more than 100 per cent. Though we have challenges, but our job is to deal with the challenges and make sure the project is completed as scheduled,” he stated.

Speaking on the importance of the AKK gas pipeline project to the development of the nation’s economy, Okwuosa explained that it was capable of spurring development in parts of the country.
“For the gas itself, the project AKK is very critical as well as important in gas delivery in Nigeria.

“It is a major segment of the Nigerian gas master plan meant to distribute gas across Nigeria and provide energy.
“You must have heard the minister stating that energy is life. But gas is energy and that is what we have in Nigeria.
“After completion, we would be able to have gas and NNPC the owner, would be able to deliver gas to the Northern part of Nigeria, but also spur development of gas in the Southern part of Nigeria and create a lot of wealth as well in the South.

“With gas available, you have power, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles to run with and reduce dependency on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), build fertiliser plants, help agriculture, and so on.

“This project will change the landscape of energy delivery and the economy of Nigeria will change,” he assured.