– AKK for inauguration in July

By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has expressed support for a Mini-LNG and LCNG project being developed by Portland Gas Limited in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

NNPC said it would supply gas to the facility from the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline when the pipeline is completed and inaugurated in July.

The Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, disclosed this at an investment workshop organised by Portland Gas in Abuja on Thursday.

He said the compressed natural gas (CNG) sector has recorded rapid growth in recent years, attracting over $200 million in private investment commitments.

Represented by the Manager, Business Development, Suleiman Kachalla, Ogunleye noted that more than 300 conversion centres have been established nationwide, with a target of one million CNG vehicle conversions by 2027.

He explained that each vehicle conversion reduces fuel imports, conserves foreign exchange, lowers transportation costs, and strengthens macroeconomic stability.

“Gwagwalada sits at a strategic transport intersection linking Kogi and key northern hubs. It has become a logistics and commercial centre with demand from transport and haulage fleets, manufacturing SMEs, real estate developments, and agro-processing clusters.

“The Mini-LNG/LCNG facility will fuel vehicles, power industries, reduce dependence on diesel, and strengthen energy resilience.

“Positioned at the AKK Abuja take-off node, the project aligns strongly with market demand and investor appetite.

“Mini-LNG infrastructure is modular and scalable—deployable quickly and expandable in phases as demand grows. This reduces capital risk and supports flexible returns.

“NNPC will supply piped natural gas to the Portland Gas LNG/CNG production plant in Gwagwalada, strategically located along the AKK corridor,” he said.

In his keynote address, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, said energy affordability must be addressed if Nigeria is to achieve its ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar economy within the decade.

He noted that while the Presidential CNG Initiative has catalysed early progress, scaling the programme will require stronger institutional alignment, supply chain reliability, access to finance, robust safety regulations, and closer coordination with state governments.

“This will determine whether the initiative evolves into a national network or remains a fragmented effort. State governments are central to the energy transition, as urban transport systems, land allocation for stations, local taxes and levies, and fleet conversions fall within their jurisdiction,” he said.

In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of Portland Gas Limited, Mr. Folajimi Mohammed, said Nigeria’s energy future would be driven by gas.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting government efforts to expand access to gas resources.

“At Portland Gas, our commitment is clear. We are here to make clean, reliable, and sustainable gas solutions a reality. With years of experience in gas infrastructure development, we have consistently delivered projects to the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and innovation.

“This track record gives us confidence that Nigeria’s gas sector is ripe for investment, and Portland Gas is ready to play a leading role,” he said.