Amid growing controversy surrounding the attribution of the NNPCL and Presidential Gas Initiative’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) projects in Kogi State, new facts have emerged clarifying the situation.
The controversy ignited after claims that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had taken credit for influencing the project, which has sparked criticism, particularly from supporters of a former Deputy President of the Senate.
These supporters accused Delta State’s three APC senators of failing to counter Akpoti-Uduaghan’s alleged appropriation of projects that were originally intended for Delta State but have now been shifted to Kogi.
This has prompted some commentators to accuse Akpoti-Uduaghan of orchestrating a media attack designed to undermine the APC senators.
However, Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, Member of the House of Representatives for Ughelli North, South, and Udu federal constituency, has strongly refuted these claims, stating that the gas project in Kogi is not the result of any political maneuvering but rather an economic decision, enabled by existing gas infrastructure.
Hon. Waive further clarified that gas projects are handled by the Committee on Gas, not the Local Content Committee, as some have wrongly suggested.
He also dispelled the claim that the present administration initiated the gas pipeline from the Niger Delta to the Niger Republic, stating that it was a project launched under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Waive reminded the public that large-scale infrastructure projects require long-term planning, spanning beyond the tenure of a single administration.
He noted that Niger Delta lawmakers during the 9th Assembly did not object to the construction of the pipeline during Buhari’s tenure, questioning why the controversy over the project had only arisen recently.
“The decision to establish five CNG plants in Kogi is rooted in economic logic, as the pipeline already facilitates easy gas distribution to the northern region,” Waive emphasized.
He also expressed concern about Akpoti-Uduaghan attempting to claim undue credit for the project, misleading the public about her role in it. He warned that such narratives are aimed at manipulating public opinion against Niger Delta lawmakers and causing unnecessary division.
Waive called for an end to the politicization of the infrastructure project, urging all stakeholders to focus on Nigeria’s economic growth rather than engaging in smear campaigns.
“Those behind these false narratives should reconsider their actions, as misinformation ultimately harms the very people they claim to represent,” he stated.
A Delta APC chieftain, who preferred to remain anonymous, also criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan’s media team for attempting to tarnish the image of APC lawmakers over political differences.
“After reading Hon. Waive’s statement, it’s clear that these false narratives are meant to deceive the public and gain cheap political points. Delta APC leadership should now move past these unfounded accusations,” the chieftain said.
The controversy surrounds the agreement signed on October 18, 2024, between NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) and A4E Energy to construct a 100 mmscf/d natural gas distribution facility in Ajaokuta, Kogi State. According to NNPCL’s official website, the gas facility is designed to supply natural gas to various LNG facilities, CNG compression sites, and other gas-dependent operations in Ajaokuta.
This project is part of the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative and Presidential CNG project, which aim to support Nigeria’s industrialization and transportation sectors. On January 31, 2025, NNPCL commenced the construction of five mini Liquefied Natural Gas plants in Ajaokuta as part of its ongoing commitment to Nigeria’s gas revolution.
The initiative is designed to enhance domestic gas utilization, increase energy access, support industrial growth, and create jobs. Mele Kyari, the Group CEO of NNPCL, emphasized Ajaokuta’s strategic location, with the company’s existing pipeline network extending to the area.
Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, underscored Ajaokuta’s emerging role as a hub for gas infrastructure, made possible by policies like the Decade of Gas and Presidential CNG initiatives.
