KEY POINTS
- NNPC is preparing investors ahead of the initial gas flow from a major pipeline segment linking central and northern Nigeria.
- The country is shifting from oil-focused energy planning to a gas-driven industrial strategy.
- New gas infrastructure could power industries, cut fuel costs, attract investment, and boost regional development.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, is stepping up talks with investors as it prepares to deliver its first gas through a key section of the massive AKK pipeline by July 2026. The segment linking Ajaokuta to Gwagwalada is expected to unlock new opportunities for industries across northern Nigeria.
Officials say the moment the pipeline becomes operational, it won’t just mark the completion of a project, it will signal the beginning of a new phase in the country’s energy and industrial development.
A Shift from Oil Dependence to Gas Power
Speaking after an industry workshop in Abuja, NNPC Executive Vice President for Gas, Power and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, explained that Nigeria is intentionally repositioning its energy strategy.
He noted that for decades Nigeria was seen mainly as an oil-producing nation that also had gas reserves. That perception, he said, is changing fast as government policy and investment now prioritize gas as a foundation for economic growth, power generation, and industrialisation.
The shift is being driven by national programmes promoting domestic gas use and encouraging private investors to enter the NNPC.
The workshop, organised by Portland Gas Limited, focused on plans to build a mini-LNG and compressed natural gas facility in Gwagwalada. The project is designed to serve as a central hub supplying gas to industries, transport operators, and businesses within the Federal Capital Territory and nearby industrial corridors.
NNPC confirmed it will supply pipeline gas to the facility once operations begin. The plant is expected to function as a “mother station,” distributing fuel to mobile refuelling units and retail outlets, making gas more accessible beyond fixed pipelines.
