Group CEO NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari delivers a Keynote Address at the Opening Ceremony of the 24th NOG Energy Week (NOG) held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Abuja, Nigeria.
In what is a major milestone for Nigeria’s energy infrastructure, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced the successful crossing of the River Niger by the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, marking a significant step toward the project’s scheduled completion by the fourth quarter of 2025.
The announcement was made by NNPC Ltd’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, during his keynote address at the 24th NOG Energy Week Conference in Abuja.
Ojulari attributed the achievement to a combination of innovative contract reengineering and strategic industry collaboration, describing it as a major engineering and logistical breakthrough.
It would be recalled that in a conversation with newsmen over the weekend some days back, Engr Emeka Okwuosa, Chief Executive of Oilserv, the contractor on the project, had announced this particular feat.
The disclosure by the GMD of NNPC further reinforces that announcement, which is a further boost to Nigeria’s energy outlook.
While speaking, Ojulari also revealed that the country recorded 100% availability on its major crude oil pipelines for the entire month of June 2025—an unprecedented development in recent times. This was credited to a series of comprehensive, industry-wide security interventions spearheaded by NNPC Ltd, which have helped stabilize and increase crude oil production across the country.
Ojulari emphasized the need for continued investment in oil production and gas infrastructure, noting that NNPC has steadily fulfilled its cash-call obligations to Joint Venture operations—an essential factor in maintaining investor confidence. He pointed to the enabling provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as a strong foundation for NNPC’s evolving role in financing and leading energy projects in Nigeria.
Looking ahead, the NNPC chief called for a shift in the orientation of future NOG conferences. “My vision for NOG 2025 is that it should evolve from being just a talkshop into a platform where performance is celebrated and investment deals are signed,” he stated.
The progress on the AKK pipeline and the improved pipeline security signal renewed momentum in Nigeria’s energy sector, reinforcing NNPC Ltd’s central role in driving national development through strategic energy projects.
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