Oilserv Limited, the contractor handling the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, has announced the successful crossing of the River Niger segment of the project.

The company disclosed the development in a post on its official X account on Tuesday, stating that it deployed horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to complete the 1.6-kilometre river crossing. The technique is designed to reduce surface disruption and environmental impact during the installation of underground pipelines.

“We have successfully crossed the 40-inch x 1.6km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline through the River Niger using the Horizontal Directional Drilling special technique, minimising environmental impact. We remain committed to driving Nigeria’s energy transition,” Oilserv stated.

HDD involves the use of a surface-launched drilling rig to create an underground path, which allows pipelines to pass beneath roads, rivers, and other obstacles without open excavation.

The crossing is considered a major engineering milestone in the AKK pipeline project, which is part of Nigeria’s efforts to expand domestic gas infrastructure. The project aims to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta in Kogi State to Kano, serving off-takers in Abuja and other locations along the route. It is expected to facilitate industrial growth, increase access to cleaner energy, and reduce dependence on diesel and firewood in northern Nigeria.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), which is funding the project, had previously described the River Niger crossing as one of the most complex technical aspects of the pipeline construction. Last month, the company said the AKK pipeline was over 70 per cent completed.

In June 2024, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mele Kyari, stated that the project was expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2025. During a site visit to the River Kaduna segment of the pipeline, he assured a ministerial delegation of the government’s commitment to timely delivery.

While touring the River Kaduna section of the pipeline, he reaffirmed the government’s dedication to meeting the deadline.

He noted that although the target was to wrap up the project by December 2024, there was strong confidence it would be finalized within the initial months of 2025.

The ministers on the visit included the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.

The AKK pipeline project is expected to support Nigeria’s energy security objectives and attract investment in the domestic gas sector.