The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, has revealed that the Ajaokuta Kaduna Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project, worth $2.8 billion, is now 72% complete as of the end of the first quarter of 2025. He shared this update at the 2025 Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (OLEF) hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria.
Speaking on the theme “Driving Energy Sustainability Through Technology, Policy, and Supply Chain Excellence,” Ojulari, represented by Engr. Udobong Ntia, Executive Vice President, Upstream, stressed that the conference addresses key issues in Nigeria’s petroleum industry. He called on stakeholders to rethink how the energy sector is managed.
Ojulari highlighted the energy challenges in Africa, noting that over 600 million people lack electricity, presenting both a challenge and an opportunity for growth. He said Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which makes up over 85% of export earnings and significant government revenue, must lead to a sustainable energy future.
He also praised the role of technology, saying it is essential for progress at NNPC Limited. He mentioned the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, which has transformed NNPC into a commercial entity focused on delivering value. Under Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2060, NNPC is expanding its Autogas program to reach over one million vehicles by 2026 and pushing forward with projects like the AKK pipeline.
Earlier, SPE Nigeria Chairman, Engr. Amina Danmadami, emphasized that oil and gas will remain vital for Nigeria’s economy and energy security for decades, despite global focus on renewables. She noted that OLEF, since 1991, has been a key platform for dialogue and innovation, marking the 1956 oil discovery in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State.
The Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Ahmed Aminu, also praised SPE Nigeria for maintaining OLEF as a vital space for policy discussion and energy development since 2015.
The event underscored Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to balance its oil and gas legacy with sustainable growth.