ALIYU MUHAMMAD SANI
Public Analyst
The new wave of fellowship between the federal Government and Kano State is anticipated to bring home notable projects to the state by embarking on new projects and continuation of the aborted ones.
Notable among them is the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project that has great potential benefits not only for Kano State but for the entire northern Nigeria in particular and the nation in general.
The project spans 614 km from Ajaokuta through Abuja to Kaduna then to Kano was designed to supply gas for power, industries, and fertilizer plants in the North.
The $2.8 billion AKK Gas Pipeline project, meted with series of challenges hampering its full execution.
As Kano State government aligns with the ruling party, it potentially stands to benefit more from the project.
The ongoing development of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna- Kano (AKK) gas pipeline presents a transformative economic opportunities for Kano State as the AKK pipeline is set to terminate within the state, it is imperative that proactive measures are taken to fully prepare and capitalize on the multifaceted benefits this project offers.
Kano State must strategically pivot to optimize any potential benefits from the project to compliment on going developmental projects in the State.
Benefits of the AKK Project to Kano State:
The Executive Governor, Abba K. Yusuf should rise up and exploit the opportunities of this new political merger to bring home the following dividends to Kano State;
1. Economic Growth and Industrialization:
The AKK pipeline will facilitate reliable access to natural gas, an affordable and cleaner energy source. Kano, as a commercial and industrial hub in Northern Nigeria, stands to attract new industries such as power generation, fertilizer production, and manufacturing.
This can stimulate local economic development and diversification beyond agriculture and textiles.
2. Job Creation and Skills Development:
With the pipeline’s completion, new employment opportunities will be created directly within energy infrastructure and indirectly through industrial expansion.
Strategic planning to develop vocational training and technical skills in the youth and labor force will maximize local employment and reduce youth unemployment.
3. Revenue Generation and Public Services:
Kano State can harness additional revenue streams through partnerships and increased economic activities linked to the gas sector.
Enhanced fiscal capacity will enable the government to improve public infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social services.
4. Energy Security and Reduced Costs:
The steady supply of gas can enhance energy security in Kano, reducing the cost and unreliability of power.
Better electricity availability will boost household welfare, small businesses, and large industries alike.
Strategic Preparation / Recommendations:
• Establish a dedicated task force to coordinate with federal agencies, project stakeholders, and local communities for smooth pipeline integration.
• Develop an investment promotion framework targeting companies in gas-based industries.
• Initiate capacity-building programs in technical skills relevant to the gas sector.
• Engage community leaders to ensure inclusive benefits and address environmental and social safeguards.
• Explore public-private partnerships to build gas-powered plants and related infrastructure within the state.
Kano’s government and stakeholders should diversify energy sources immediately.
• Invest in solar and wind hybrids for industrial zones, leveraging Kano’s sunny climate to offset gas dependency.
• Negotiate interim LNG imports or CNG trucking from southern fields as a bridge solution.
• Form public-private partnerships to repurpose acquired AKK right-of-way lands for agro-processing hubs.
Strategic Implementation Roadmap
• Kano State to enact a gas transition Policy, prioritizing women’s inclusion in green energy training
• Engaging NNPC for phased gas deliveries, even if delayed, positions Kano as a proactive northern hub
• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) trucking from southern terminals offers a quick, scalable supply.
• Pilot CNG projects by NNPC Gas have powered Abuja plants; Kano can adapt for textiles and fertilizers, with refueling stations at industrial estates.
• Integrate gas alternatives with solar-diesel hybrids for resilience.
• Convert pipeline corridors to rail or fiber optic routes to boost logistics and digital economy.
• Retrain AKK construction labor for local manufacturing to create 5,000+ jobs in revived factories
• Demand timely payouts and reinvest in SMEs to stimulate $100M+ local investment.
• Lobby for federal gas allocation priorities to Kano and secure alternative supplies amid delays.
• Kano Assembly to enact incentives like tax breaks for CNG/LNG adopters.
• Partner NNPC for phased supplies and train youth in regasification to boost jobs employment.
In conclusion, Kano State’s strategic positioning as the termination point of the AKK pipeline offers a critical gateway to accelerated economic development. Timely, coordination and visionary action will ensure that Kano not only receives the pipeline but fully exploits the immense possibilities it brings for the welfare of its citizens.
Abba Kabir Yusuf’s stylistic leadership leadership in this endeavor will decisively position Kano State as a powerhouse in Nigeria’s energy and industrial sectors.
This couple with the visionary philosophy of the State government in providing a conducive atmosphere for business expansion.
Thanks to the incumbent administration for ensuring a well secured Kano for socioeconomic potentialities.
