NNPCL pays $1.1bn to AKK contractors, targets Q3 completion date

•Says project on schedule

•Notes 3rd party financial not needed

By Obas Esiedesa

THE Group CEO of NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, has disclosed that contractors handling the 614Km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline project have so far been paid $1.1 billion.

Kyari told journalists during an inspection visit to one of the project sites located at Ahoko community in Kogi State, that NNPC had the capacity to singlehandedly finance the project.

The AKK pipeline project has a total cost of $2.5 billion, down from the $2.8 billion initiatially approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, in 2018.

The NNPCL boss, who explained that work was going on in at least 30 sites along the project route, said:  “Our contractor, our staff, are doing everything possible to deliver this project, and we are most grateful to them, and we appreciate the great work that they are doing. And, of course, “For the benefit of the Nigerian public, this is one of the most massive projects that we are on in the company. It is of immense proportion of value to our country and for the socio-economic growth of our country.

“We know that this is a must deliver project. This project has not stopped for one day and we continue to fund it, despite the fact that we do not have third party financing on this project. We have  spent over $1.1 billion on this project from our cash flow.”

While assuring that the project would be delivered on schedule, Kyari noted:  “We are a very different company today, we are a commercial company. We have intercompany laws in our company. 

”Now, this company can fund this project, so we do not need any support on this project, we will deliver it.

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

Challenges to AKK project

While acknowledging that there were challenges facing the execution of the projects, he said the company, with the support of the Federal Government, was working to resolve them.

“Yes, there are challenges, security issues. We have lost men and we are so sorry to their families. We continue to share their grief but despite this, we’ve got massive support from our government security agencies. 

”The Nigerian Army, Department of State Service, DSS, and all of other government security agencies should make sure that our workers work safely and we are also able to continue this project uninterrupted. We are most grateful to this team.

“We are sure Nigerians, that this project is different and this project will be delivered,” he added.

In his briefing on the project’s progress, the Project Manager, Oilserve Limited, Steve Nnorom, said there were 15 active wielding sites in the area, assuring that the project would be delivered on schedule.

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