Kyari confirmed that the NNPC released over $1.1 billion for the project, which is aimed at providing a steady supply of natural gas to power plants and industries across Nigeria.

“For the benefit of the Nigerian public, this is one of the most massive project that we’ll run in the company, it is of immense proportion of value to our country and to the socio-economic growth of our country.

The project is being developed in three phases, with the first phase being the construction of a 200 km-long section between Ajaokuta and Abuja.

The second phase will cover the Abuja-Kaduna section, while the third phase will complete the pipeline’s construction by extending it from Kaduna to Kano.

Kyari emphasised the NNPC’s capacity and readiness to meet all financial obligations due to the importance of the project, saying: “We have so far spent over $1.1bn on this project from our cashflow. We are a very different company today. We are a commercial company. We have inter-company laws within our company now. This company can fund this project, so we do not need any support on this project to deliver this project now.

“As we speak now, we don’t owe a dollar to our contractors today. We paid all their invoices, there are over 30 sites that are active today in this project, and we are very hopeful that we will deliver this project.”

The AKK Gas Pipeline project is one of several infrastructure development projects that the Nigerian government is currently undertaking to stimulate economic growth and development in the country.