$2.8bn AKK Gas Pipeline: Senate Questions Delay in Execution

The Nigerian Senate Committee on Local Contents has expressed discontent over the delay in the execution of the $2.8 billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline Project.

Brentex CPP Ltd., the local firm handling the project, was urged on Tuesday to speed up work on the $1.27 billion component of the project by the Senate committee, chaired by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

During an interactive session, the committee confronted Brentex CPP Ltd. management about delays in the $1.27 billion stations component of the contract, insisting that the 10th Senate would not tolerate any excuses.

In response, Brentex CPP Ltd. Chairman Sani Abubakar explained that part of the delay was due to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) attempting to de-scope the $1.27 billion station component of the contract.

“NNPCL has written to us about de-scoping the $1.27 billion stations TGS component of the contract, and we have been in discussions with them for the past 18 months. So the delay is not from us but from NNPCL,” Abubakar said.

However, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan countered, stating that, based on documents provided, NNPCL was considering de-scoping due to dissatisfaction with the project’s pace.

“Let’s be honest, NNPCL is considering de-scoping because they are not satisfied with the pace of work. The project was supposed to be completed in 2022, then extended to 2023, and now to May 2025. The stations are in your control and the delay is on your end,” she said.

The committee chair requested that Brentex submit all correspondence between them and NNPCL.