The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said it would complete the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline in order to drive energy supply projects needed to power industries in the northern part of the country, particularly those in Kaduna, informed Punch.

The group’s Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, said that a 1,000km crude pipeline from Niger Republic to Kaduna would also be built, according to This Day. The decision was taken after petroleum officials considered importing crude oil from Chad and Niger Republic to supply Kaduna refinery.

Despite being typically Africa’s biggest crude producer, Nigeria had been facing a chronic shortage crisis in output due to militant attacks in its pipelines. In mid-November, the national oil firm confirmed that it was intensifying its search for crude oil in the North-East geopolitical zone, and earlier announced that it had received a directive from Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, to explore for crude in the Lake Chad Basin and the Benue Trough.