Buhari hints at extending gas pipeline to North Africa

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said that the Federal Government would soon commence the construction of the 600-kilometre Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline to move gas from the southern part of the country to the northern part.

He also said that the “viability of extending the gas pipeline to North Africa was under consideration”.

Buhari stated this when he spoke at the one day 5th Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

In a statement by the State House, posted on the presidency Twitter handle, @NGRPresident, Buhari described the theme of the summit, ‘Natural gas – energy for sustainable development’ as most appropriate, noting that the one-day meeting was “taking place at a critical juncture as global energy supply is transitioning from hydrocarbons to renewables.”

According to Buhari, with the energy deficit in the developing world especially, in Africa, where nearly 600 million people had not access to modern energy, responsible leaders should make it a duty to preserve the environment not only for the present but for future generations

He said, “The Paris Accord of 2015 signalled the first major global commitment to a deliberate effort on this inevitable transition” and that “Nigeria is proud to be one of the first signatories” to the historic agreement.

Explaining why Nigeria and GECF members are focusing on gas development, President Buhari said:

“We‘re mindful of the energy deficit in the developing world especially, here in Africa where we have nearly 600 million people without access to modern energy. As responsible leaders, it is our duty to preserve the environment not only for the present but for future generations.”

“We can achieve this balance between our energy deficit and environmental preservation needs by developing and deploying new technologies. Although classified as fossil fuel, natural gas is a viable solution to both our energy and environmental challenges.”

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President Buhari further noted that “natural gas has the added advantage of availability and affordability,” stressing that “to fully leverage this potential, nations need to pool resources to put up trans-border and trans-regional energy infrastructure.”

According to him, “we in Nigeria have led the way by the construction of the West Africa Gas Pipeline which runs through 4 West African countries.”

He then commended the foresight of the founding fathers of the GECF “in promoting natural gas in the global energy mix.”

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