Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through the federal government is seeking $1 billion to continue work on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, a key project costing about $2.8 billion, after Chinese lenders, which had pledged to offer most of the funds, failed to disburse cash as quickly as expected, three sources privy to the matter told Reuters. According to the report, it is the latest sign of falling Chinese financial support for infrastructure projects across Africa, after years of major Chinese lending for railway, energy, and other projects. A spokesman for state oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which is building the 614-kilometre (384-mile) pipeline, said it was still negotiating with the Chinese lenders – Bank of China and Sinosure – to cover $1.8 billion of the project cost.