The Association of Local Distributors of Gas (ALDG), represented by its Executive Secretary, John Kadiri, participated in the 2026 NNPC Limited Energy Business Development Forum on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, held on Thursday, 30 July 2026, at the Government House, Minna, Niger State.
Convened under the theme “Accelerating Domestic Gas Utilisation and Driving the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Revolution along the AKK Corridor,” the forum brought together officials of the state government, energy operators, private investors, community leaders, and other key stakeholders to explore investment opportunities emerging from the AKK Gas Pipeline project.
As part of the programme, John Kadiri moderated the forum’s first panel session, “Recommendations for Effectively Addressing the Pain Points of Private Investors in Niger State.”
The discussion featured senior industry leaders, including Engr. Teryima Toryila, Executive Director, Gas, Power & Renewable Energies, AYM Shafa Holdings; Mohammed Dahiru, Executive Director, Operations, NNPC Retail Limited; Amina Sanusi, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Niger State Investment Promotion Agency (NSIPA); Achile Attah, Project Manager, NIPCO; George Feng, Managing Director, CCCCNG; and Franklin Umole, Managing Director, Gas Midstream Infrastructure, Axxela Ltd.
The discussion focused on Niger State’s readiness to attract private investment as the AKK pipeline approaches completion and identified several priorities for unlocking investment.
Panellists called for a centralised, one-stop approval process for gas infrastructure projects, greater policy clarity to strengthen investors’ confidence, improved alignment of land administration and investment regulations, and the early availability of gas supply to support industrial development.
Speaking during the session, John Kadiri reaffirmed the readiness of local gas distributors to support gas expansion across the AKK corridor, citing the already active participation of members of the association in other gas supply infrastructure corridors in Nigeria and the West Africa region.
Participants also received key updates on the progress of the AKK Gas Pipeline, with NNPC Limited confirming that the pipeline has now reached Abuja and will be commissioned in phases later this year. Pipeline laying has also been completed in the Kano section of the project, while all construction activities across the Niger State segment are expected to be completed before the end of the year.
For ALDG, the forum reinforced the critical role local gas distributors will continue to play in ensuring that the infrastructure investment represented by the AKK pipeline translates into widespread domestic gas utilisation, industrial development, and improved energy access across Northern Nigeria.
