The minister of state petroleum resources (gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, has charged contractors handling the 614 kilometre Ajaokuta, Kaduna, Kano (AKK) gas pipelines project to be faithful to the July/August 2024 completion deadline.
Ekpo gave the charge when he undertook a tour of the project site yesterday.
The minister who frowned upon the slow pace of work told the contractor handling the work, Messrs Oilserve Limited that the economic prosperity of the country is tied to the AKK gas project as it is designed to supply gas to homes, automobiles, electricity and industrial users within Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and the adjourning states.
“I want you to know that the prosperity of Nigeria depends on this project because energy is synonymous with prosperity, and when this project is completed we will have energy security in our country; investors can then come in to do business and also create jobs for our citizens,” Ekpo said.
He added: “There will be CNG for cars and LPG will be made available for more homes. Industries and power stations will also benefit from this project. This project holds the keys to the growth of our economy and in fact, we have enough gas for the project.”
Responding, the chairman of Oilserve Limited, Mr Emeka Okuosa, said the project assured the minister that be completed for inauguration between July and August 2024.
Okuosa listed some of the challenges slowing down the AKK gas pipeline to include insecurity in neighbouring Niger State and a right-of-way bedeviled by rocks and rivers.
He however said the company was working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and security agencies to curtail the pockets of insecurity and ensure contractors work both day and at night to meet completion deadline.
“The July, August deadline should be sacrosanct and there should be no excuse; that is what we are going to look at,” Ekpo reiterated while assuring Nigerians that the economic situation of the country would improve for the benefit of all by the time the AKK project and other economic programmes of the federal government start yielding dividends.
The minister was accompanied on the tour by the chief executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, top officials of the NNPC and other industry stakeholders.
