Buhari launches initiative to lay gas pipeline from South to North of Nigeria

Buhari launches initiative to lay gas pipeline from South to North of Nigeria

Buhari is laying gas pipeline from South to North of Nigeria

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has launched an initiative to lay gas pipeline from the south of the country to the north. When completed, the pipeline will transport product from the South to the North without much hassles.

Nigeria is an oil dependent economy and its oil producing Niger Delta region is in the South. The people of Niger Delta region have been demanding for resource control while the people of the South-East have demanded for secession. 

Nigeria secured a $2.6bn (£2.2bn) loan from the China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, also known as Sinosure, and the Bank of China to finance the project.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, President Buhari launched the pipeline project via a video link while other officials were at the site.

Two Chinese companies will build the 614km gas pipeline, which should be completed within two years.

It will run link with the central town of Ajaokuta in Kogi state to Kano state in the far north.

President Buhari said when completed it would help boost industrialisation as well as jobs and electricity generation.

Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest economies and oil and gas producers.

But experts say the country’s resources are either under-utilised or wasted.