NNPC Limited has recorded a major milestone with the successful completion of the River Niger crossing on the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline, significantly advancing Nigeria’s gas infrastructure development.
The project, executed by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), unlocks the full capacity of the OB3 pipeline, which is designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. This development is expected to strengthen energy supply, improve reliability, and support economic growth across the country.
The technically complex crossing—constructed დაახლოებით two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed—was delivered in partnership with PCE Nig. Limited using advanced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the achievement as a defining moment for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure, highlighting its role in enhancing supply reliability, boosting domestic gas utilisation, and supporting power generation and industrial expansion.
He noted that the success builds on the company’s earlier engineering feat on the AKK pipeline River Niger crossing in 2025, demonstrating growing technical capability and execution excellence in delivering complex energy projects.
Ojulari also credited the milestone to strong collaboration, innovative engineering solutions, and disciplined project execution, as well as the support of the Federal Government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the guidance of the NNPC Board chaired by Ahmadu Musa Kida.
The OB3 pipeline is a critical component of Nigeria’s integrated gas network, linking eastern gas-producing regions to the western corridor and extending connectivity to the north via the AKK pipeline. With this milestone, Nigeria’s gas networks are now more interconnected, improving distribution efficiency nationwide.
In the near term, the project is expected to unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet of additional gas supply for the domestic market, supporting electricity generation, industrial activities, and exports to the West African region.
NNPC reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging Nigeria’s vast oil and gas resources to drive industrialisation, expand energy access, and improve living standards, while acknowledging the contributions of host communities, NGIC staff, and project contractors in delivering the strategic national asset.
