Oilserv Limited, the contractor overseeing the 614km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, has confirmed that the pipeline has now crossed the River Niger.
They highlighted the successful completion of this complex phase using horizontal directional drilling, a method chosen to protect the surrounding environment. Oilserv also reaffirmed its dedication to advancing Nigeria’s shift toward cleaner energy sources.
In their words, the team drilled a 40-inch-wide, 1.6 km pipeline segment beneath the River Niger using a special trenchless technique that significantly reduced surface disruption.
This drilling approach, known as horizontal directional drilling, allows the underground installation of pipelines and cables with minimal impact on the surface. It’s especially effective in navigating under rivers, roads, or urban infrastructure without open-cut excavation.
This achievement marks a major engineering breakthrough for the AKK project, designed to increase gas usage at home and fuel industries across Nigeria’s northern region.
Stretching 614 km from Ajaokuta in Kogi State to Kano, the AKK pipeline features a 40-inch diameter and includes multiple gas facilities and terminals along its route. It aims to deliver natural gas to consumers in Abuja and beyond.
The broader vision behind the project is to support cleaner fuel alternatives, reduce the use of diesel and firewood, and provide steady power to industries across the North. It also plays a key role in harnessing Nigeria’s abundant gas resources, attracting investment into the gas sector, and strengthening national energy security.
Crossing the River Niger had been considered one of the toughest engineering challenges in the project. Last month, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) announced that construction had surpassed 70% completion.
Back in June 2024, then-NNPC GCEO Mele Kyari stated that the pipeline would be ready by the first quarter of 2025—a deadline still pending as of June 2025.
Kyari made this statement during a high-profile visit to the AKK project site in Kaduna, where officials reviewed progress on the River Kaduna crossing.
Joining him were three federal ministers: Wale Edun (Finance and Economy), Mohammed Idris (Information and National Orientation), and Ekperikpe Ekpo (Petroleum Resources—Gas).
Kyari assured the ministers that NNPC remained focused on timely delivery, aiming for completion by December 2024, but expressed confidence that the project would be operational by early 2025.
source:punchng.com
