Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited has recorded a major milestone in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure development with the successful completion of the River Niger crossing on the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline.
The project, executed by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), involved drilling approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger using advanced horizontal directional drilling technology, in collaboration with PCE Nig. Limited.
The completion effectively unlocks the full capacity of the OB3 pipeline, which is designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, enhancing energy supply reliability and supporting economic growth.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the development as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s energy sector.
“The completion of the OB3 River Niger Crossing is a defining milestone for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure,” he said, noting that the project would strengthen domestic gas utilisation, support power generation and drive industrial expansion.
Ojulari said the feat reflects the company’s growing engineering and project execution capabilities, building on previous successes such as the AKK River Niger crossing delivered in June 2025 under more complex conditions.
He attributed the success to strong project governance, innovative engineering and collaboration between NNPC teams and contractors, adding that the OB3 pipeline remains central to efforts to establish an integrated and resilient national gas network.
The NNPC boss also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that the administration’s Gas-to-Prosperity agenda has created an enabling environment for such large-scale infrastructure delivery. He further commended the company’s board, led by Chairman Ahmadu Musa Kida, for its guidance.
According to him, the project aligns with national production targets of 3 million barrels of crude oil per day and 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day by 2030, while physically linking gas-producing regions with demand centres across the country.
The OB3 pipeline serves as a critical backbone connecting the eastern and western gas networks, with onward linkage to the northern corridor through the AKK pipeline. In the near term, the completed crossing is expected to unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet of additional gas supply to the domestic market, with implications for power generation, industrial development and regional exports.
Ojulari also commended host communities, NGIC personnel and PCE Nig. Limited for their roles in delivering the project, describing their contributions as pivotal to its success.
The company reiterated its commitment to leveraging Nigeria’s oil and gas resources to improve living standards and drive sustainable economic development.
