President Muhammadu Buhari has flagged off the AKK Gas Pipeline Project on Thursday, June 30, 2020. The project is being handled by OilServ, a local company with an excellent track record in oil and gas servicing projects.
Oilserv Limited is an indigenous Engineering Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) company providing services to power and oil & gas companies/industries and have executed several landmark pipeline and gas infrastructure projects including OB-3 Pipeline Contract, OB-OB Project and currently the AKK pipeline project.
Emeka Okwuosa OilServ’s chief executive said that the project would be delivered within the contractual terms, saying: “We are ready for it and what we are doing today is the official flag off which is ground breaking. We are already working and laying the lines.”
He said OilServ had over 600 employees, stating that this will be increased to 1000 or 15000 in due course.
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Mele Kyari, in his address, commended President Buhari for his push and support to jumpstart the project which he said was critical to national development.
Mr Kyari said that the project, when completed, will create an enabling environment for development, adding that NNPC has the capacity to deliver and create opportunities for the growth of other industries in Nigeria.
On his part, Mr Buhari said the landmark project was being developed at a critical time in Nigeria’s history, particularly now when it has become imperative to improve the country’s infrastructure asset.
The AKK Gas Pipeline Project, he said, will provide gas for generation of power, facilitate the development of new industries and revive moribund industries along transit towns in Kogi State, Abuja (FCT), Niger State, Kaduna State and Kano State.
“When operational, the cascading effect and impact of the project will be immeasurable. It has significant job creation potential both direct and indirect, while fostering the development and utilization of local skills and manpower, technology transfer and promotion of local manufacturing,” the President said.
The $2.8 billion gas project was designed in line with the key objectives of the federal government’s masterplan and was borne out of the need to not only boost domestic gas utilization in the country, but reduce the infrastructure deficit plaguing the oil and gas industry.