“This project is dear to the people of Nigeria and must succeed”, Nigeria’s President Buhari said during the flag-off of the construction of the Ajaokuta-Kano-Kaduna gas pipeline at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja on Tuesday, 30th June, 2020.

Also present at the Council Chambers in the Presidential Villa with the President during the flag-off was the Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, the Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila.

The Group Managing Director of Nigeria’s National Oil Company, NNPC, Mele Kyari, was present at the Ajaokuta site. Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai joined the flag-off virtually from Rigcachikun in Kaduna state.

Others that connected via video call were State Governors, Ministers, Service Chiefs and other top Government Officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Debt Management Office (DMO) and the Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB).

Find complete details of the 614 kilometres long pipeline here 

Excerpts from the speech of the President:

“This landmark project is being developed to increase our critical infrastructure assets. We want to use this milestone project to promote the use of gas in the domestic market and industrialize & energize the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians.

The project will have an immeasurable cascading effect on the Nigerian economy: industries, jobs, skills, tech transfer, local manufacturing. This project is part of our NEXT LEVEL Agenda. We are creating opportunities for our people.

We owe our people the responsibility of preparing them for what the future holds. Time is short, we can no longer afford to be incremental in our approach.

Infrastructural development, although long, tedious and complex remains a cardinal priority for our administration as we pursue a more prosperous future for Nigeria.

The project will provide gas not only for power generation but also gas-based industries: new industries and the revival of moribund industries, in Kogi, FCT, Kaduna and Kano States.”

Talks on reviving the Ajaokuta steel company has been lingering on for years and today marks a remarkable day for Nigerians as the landmark project has officially kicked off. This will create jobs for many people across the Nation as Kogi State (where Ajaokuta is located) is located at the centre of Nigeria and surrounded by ten states including the FCT.