The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) says it is elated about the renewed commitment of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government to complete the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline early in 2025.
Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, ACF National Publicity Secretary disclosed this in a statement at the weekend.
He said the heart-warming news came by way of the visit by a high-powered delegation of the Federal Government to the Project Site at Kaduna on Friday, 21st June, 2024. The Delegation, led by Mr. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, included Alhaji Mohammed Malagi, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas) and Mallam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). At hand to accompany the delegation was Senator Uba Sani, Executive Governor of Kaduna State, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe.
The spokesman said further that ACF wholly agrees with Mr. Edun’s observation that the AKK Gas pipeline will be critical to the Nigeria’s industrialisation endeavours and a much welcome relief for the economy in general.
“It will indeed be recalled that during the ACF Leadership’s visit to President Tinubu, on 30th May, 2024, plea for the completion of the AKK Gas Pipeline was on the wish list of the Forum for the attention of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Other projected listed included the Mambila Hydroelectric Dam, Sokoto-Badagri Highway, dredging of Rivers Benue and Niger, the Great Green Wall and on-going railway and highway projects.
“As it commends President Tinubu in respect of the AKK Project, ACF reiterates its plea for attention to the other projects which, if and when implemented, will go a long way in revamping the economy of the Northern states and Nigeria at large.
“Finally, convinced about the economic transformational benefits of the gas pipeline project, ACF calls for its its extension to other states. In particular, it should not cost too much to extend the line from Zaria towards Katsina and Zamfara states. Such an endeavour has the real potential to positively impact on the revival of moribund industries in Funtua, Katsina and Gusau, as well as the establishment of new ones.
“Kudos to and long live, Mr. President,” the statement concludes.
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