AKK Hits 95%, OB3 Ready for First Gas; NNPC Gives Update On $3.5bn Projects

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has said the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline is ready for first gas, while the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline has reached 95 per cent completion.

NNPC disclosed this in its July 2026 monthly report, stating that pre-commissioning activities at the OB3 River Niger Crossing had been completed in August in preparation for first gas.

In the NNPC report, OB3 was put at 100 per cent, while AKK remains 95 per cent complete. “OB3 River Niger Crossing: Pipeline pre-commissioning activities completed in readiness for First Gas in August 2026,” the report stated.

On the AKK project, the national oil company said construction and installation works had reached an advanced stage, with the pipeline expected to deliver early gas to Abuja in 2026.

“AKK (Early Gas): Construction and installation works are at an advanced stage to deliver early gas to Abuja in 2026,” NNPC stated.

The two projects form part of NNPC’s gas infrastructure development programme aimed at expanding gas transportation infrastructure.

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The OB3 pipeline is designed to connect gas supplies across the eastern and western parts of the country, while the AKK pipeline is being developed to transport gas to Abuja and onwards to northern parts of Nigeria.

However, the July report did not provide further details on the expected capacity or commissioning date of the AKK pipeline beyond stating that early gas would be delivered to Abuja in 2026.

Earlier in April, the NNPC announced that it had completed the long-anticipated River Niger crossing of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline, unlocking a critical segment of the country’s gas transmission network and paving the way for increased supply to power plants and industries.

The feat, delivered by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd, involved drilling approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger using advanced horizontal directional drilling technology, a method deployed in complex engineering terrains.

Announcing the development in a statement by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC, Andy Odeh, the company said the milestone effectively activates the full capacity of the 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline, designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.

The pipeline is to significantly strengthen energy availability, enhance supply reliability, and accelerate national economic development.

The company noted that the completion would, in the near term, unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet per day of additional gas supply for the domestic market, with positive implications for electricity generation, manufacturing, and exports.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, noted that the OB3 pipeline remains central to Nigeria’s ambition of building an integrated and resilient gas network.

“I commend everyone involved for their doggedness and for staying the course to deliver this strategic national asset,” he said.

Ojulari also linked the project to the Federal Government’s broader energy targets, including plans to increase crude oil production to 3 million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030.

Started in 2016, the $700m OB3 pipeline has missed several completion deadlines before this latest announcement.

AKK, OB3: Investments, Interest And Importance

Based on credible reports from NNPC, the Federal Government and major Nigerian newspapers:

KK Pipeline – Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano
Investment: $2.8 billion

Key details:

– Length: 614km 40-inch gas pipeline
– Purpose: To transport up to 2.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day to power plants in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and others

– Status: As of July 2025, 83.05% of the mainline was finished. NNPC set mechanical completion for November 2025

– Financing: 85% debt, 15% equity. Debt facility from China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure)
– So far spent: NNPCL said it had funded over $1.1 billion on the project

The AKK is Phase 1 of the Trans-Nigerian Gas Pipeline and part of Nigeria’s Gas Master Plan.

OB3 Pipeline – Obiafu/Obrikom/Oben
Investment: $700 million

Key details:
– Length: 127km to 130km, 48-inch/42-inch pipeline

– Purpose: Connects Eastern gas network to Western network and to the AKK Pipeline in the North. Designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day

– Status: Started in 2016. The River Niger crossing was completed in 2026, and as of July 2026 the pipeline was at “100 percent readiness” for first gas

– Role: Described by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) as “a vital piece of gas infrastructure for the supply of feedstock to the AKK pipeline”

Why they matter together

OB3 brings gas from the Niger Delta to Oben, Edo State. AKK then takes that gas north to Abuja, Kaduna and Kano. Together they are meant to deepen domestic gas utilization, support 3,600MW of power generation, and unlock industrial growth.

Total investment for both: ∼$3.5 billion*
– AKK: $2.8bn
– OB3: $700m

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