Mallam Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has pledged that the current 614-kilometer Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project will be completed on time, generating huge employment opportunities and ensuring the country’s stability.

Dr. Kennie Obateru, the NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, stated this Thursday during the Gas Sector Stakeholders’ Forum in Kano, Kano State, with the theme: “Optimizing the Economic Development Capacity of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project.”

Mallam Kyari claimed in a paper titled “The AKK as an Economic Development Game-Changer – NNPC’s Vision, Contributions, and Plan Forward” that the AKK gas project will assist overhaul 232 industries, resulting in huge job possibilities and wealth for the people.

Upon finished, he added, it will also function as a gas supply connection to other African countries and Europe.
“This project has been in the works for 30 years, with the goal of delivering gas to Europe via the Trans-Sahara route. What we’re witnessing now would initially supply at least 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas to the domestic market, with the potential to grow. This means that the whole country’s gas supply network will be debottled,” Mallam Kyari explained.

Read also: EFCC arrests an ex-governor and his wife on corruption charges

He said that the AKK gas project will also result in the construction of three independent power plants (IPPs) in Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano, which would enhance energy supplies and encourage the growth of small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria.

“I want to be clear: this meeting would not have been feasible if we didn’t have a clear view of the AKK gas pipeline project’s completion. This is achievable as a result of Mr. President’s clear instruction on the need to increase domestic gas use in order to benefit from the vast gas resources we have as a country. He has provided us with all of the necessary resources and incentives to complete this project,” he said.

Mallam Kyari stated that the AKK gas project will benefit the agricultural, industrial, manufacturing, and power sectors, as well as the nation’s general economic prosperity.

He said that the AKK gas pipeline project was in accordance with the Federal Government’s desire to decrease the country’s carbon footprint as part of the worldwide effort to combat global warming and climate change, as well as the Decade of Gas initiative.

According to him, gas is a key driver of prosperity around the world, and it cannot be any different in Nigeria, pointing out that the extensive industrial layout in the Otta area of Ogun and Lagos States is anchored on the NNPC’s and its partners’ gas supply, which is creating jobs and other opportunities for people.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said in his keynote address that the Gas Sector Stakeholders Forum would ensure collaboration among stakeholders aimed at kicking-starting the required activities that would ensure full use of the gas to be delivered through the AKK pipeline when it is completed.
Chief Sylva stated, “Today’s ceremony underlines our commitment to realizing the inherent potentials of gas consumption as a national catalyst for attaining economic diversification from crude oil and as a transition fuel from today’s fossil fuels to tomorrow’s renewable energy.”

Major players in the oil and gas value chain, as well as Kano Governor Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, were in person, while the governors of Nasarawa, Niger, and Kaduna, as well as the Hon Minister of Finance and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, participated remotely. A delegation from the Governor of Kogi State was sent.

DCP Abba Kyari, a top cop, has replied to claims linking him to infamous fraudster Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, also known as ‘Hushpuppi.’

According to US court filings, Abbas allegedly paid off Kyari to arrest a colleague with whom he had a feud. Kyari, on the other hand, has made a statement in response to the charges.

“Abbas, who we later came to know as Hushpuppi, called our office around two years ago and told us that someone in Nigeria had threatened to kill his family, and he sent us the individual’s phone number, pleading with us to intervene before the person attacked his family.”

“We located and apprehended the Suspect, and after further inquiry, we learned that there was no actual threat to anyone’s life, and that they are long-time friends who are having financial difficulties, therefore we released the Suspect on bail and he was not transferred to any jail.”

Read also: Wike charges Nigerian Army against secession

“Abbas Hushpuppi was not asked for a kobo. Our main goal was to save people’s lives who were allegedly in danger.”

“Later, he spotted some of my Native Garments and Caps on my social media profile and said he liked them and that he knew the guy selling the clothes, so he gave roughly N300,000 directly to the person’s account. The Native Clothes and Caps (5 sets) were delivered to our office, and He dispatched someone to collect them.

Nobody asked Abbas Hushpuppi for money, and nobody took anything from him.”

“We responded to a distress call he made about a threat to his family and released the Suspect after determining that the Suspect posed no threat to his life.”

“This is the real deal. Vincent is still alive and may be reached.”

Read also: EFCC arrests an ex-governor and his wife on corruption charges

“Those who are claiming that this is an accusation against us and citing some fictional Big Money will be disappointed once more, as our hands are clean and our record of service for the past two decades is accessible to all to see. They will continue to see us serving our fatherland, and we will continue to respond to ALL distress calls from ALL Nigerians, as long as the situation is life-threatening.”

“For good Nigerians who value our service, please don’t be concerned; our hands are clean, and they should not respond to those who are celebrating and fabricating numerous false narratives without evidence. We’re used to folks like these, as well as fake newsmakers and distributors.”

Tanko Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa State and a serving senator, and his wife have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to sources at the anti-graft agency, the pair is now being interrogated by operatives at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

Although the details of the allegation against the ex-governor and his wife were vague at press time, sources claimed their detention is related to alleged breach of trust and theft of funds committed during the former governor’s eight-year tenure as governor of Nasarawa State.

Read also: CBN releases $200 million to all commercial banks in the country to meet legitimate end-user demand

Before being elected to the National Assembly as a senator for Nasarawa South Senatorial District, Mr Al-Makura served as Governor of Nasarawa State from 2011 to 2019.

Wilson Uwujaren, a spokesman for the EFCC, said he had not yet been told on the situation when called.

Danjuma Joseph, the ex-spokeswoman, governor’s claimed he was unaware of the arrest when reached for comment.

“This morning, His Excellency left Lafia (the capital of Nasarawa State) for Abuja. Mr Joseph stated, “I am not aware of such an arrest.”

Until Wednesday, the former governor had never been linked to an EFCC investigation.

When a suspected phony investigator allegedly tried to scam the then-sitting governor in 2018, the EFCC aided the ex-family. governor’s
While acting as a “private investigator from the villa,” the suspect, Mohammed Momoh, addressed Mr Al-wife, Makura’s Mairo, with a proposal to help stop an alleged probe of two accounts belonging to the governor.

Mr Momoh, who was hauled before an FCT High Court, allegedly said that he discovered information about the two accounts that had been under investigation since 2011, as well as intercepted letters from the EFCC’s investigation report purportedly delivered to First Bank.