By Sunday Michael Ogwu
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced a major milestone in the ongoing Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project, with the successful crossing of the River Niger—a key engineering challenge that signals steady progress toward project completion by the fourth quarter of 2025.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, disclosed this achievement on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address at the 24th edition of NOG Energy Week in Abuja. He credited the breakthrough to effective contract reengineering, strategic planning, and robust collaboration across the oil and gas industry.
Ojulari also revealed a second major achievement: for the first time in years, Nigeria’s crude oil pipelines recorded 100% operational availability throughout June 2025.
He attributed this development to heightened security interventions spearheaded by NNPC, which, he said, have significantly improved crude oil production levels.
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Despite these gains, the NNPC boss called for increased investment in the oil and gas sector to sustain production growth.
He noted that NNPC Ltd has continued to meet its cash-call obligations in Joint Venture (JV) operations—an effort he described as pivotal to rebuilding investor confidence.
Ojulari further emphasised that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has positioned NNPC Ltd as a commercially driven, accountable national energy company capable of leading and financing transformative projects.
Looking ahead to NOG 2025, Ojulari expressed a desire to see the annual event evolve beyond policy discussions into a results-orientated platform where achievements are celebrated and concrete investment deals are sealed.
“Let’s move from talk to action. By NOG 2025, I want us to be celebrating performance and signing new investment deals that drive the sector forward,” he said.
Sunday Michael Ogwu is a Nigerian journalist and editor of Pinnacle Daily. He is known for his work in business and economic reporting. He has held editorial roles in prominent Nigerian media outlets, where he has focused on economic policy, financial markets, and developmental issues affecting Nigeria and Africa more broadly.