Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has successfully completed the long-delayed River Niger crossing of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline, a major milestone expected to significantly enhance gas supply to power plants, industries, and export markets.
The project, delivered by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, involved drilling nearly two kilometres beneath the River Niger using advanced horizontal directional drilling technology, a method suited for complex geological environments.
Announcing the development, the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, said the achievement unlocks the full capacity of the 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline.
“The NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of NNPC Limited, has successfully completed the River Niger crossing of the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben Gas Pipeline, marking a major milestone in the expansion of Nigeria’s national gas transmission network,” the statement read.
“The successful crossing unlocks the full potential of the OB3 pipeline, a strategic infrastructure designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, significantly strengthening energy availability, enhancing supply reliability, and accelerating national economic development.”
NNPC said the pipeline is designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day and will, in the near term, unlock more than 500 million standard cubic feet per day of additional supply to the domestic market.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, described the project as a turning point for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure ambitions.
“The completion of the OB3 River Niger crossing is a defining milestone for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and a clear demonstration of what disciplined execution and sustained commitment to excellence can deliver,” Ojulari said.
“By successfully traversing one of the most technically challenging sections of the project, we have unlocked a critical link that will enhance gas supply reliability, deepen domestic utilisation, and support power generation and industrial growth across the country.”
Ojulari added that the success built on earlier engineering milestones, including the River Niger crossing on the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano pipeline completed in 2025.
“This achievement is not incidental. It is the result of deliberately leveraging and upscaling our AKK engineering and execution excellence through rigorous project governance, innovative engineering solutions, adaptive problem-solving, and the unwavering commitment of our teams and partners,” he said.
He noted that the OB3 pipeline remains central to Nigeria’s ambition of building an integrated gas network linking eastern supply hubs with western and northern demand centres.
“I commend everyone involved for their doggedness and for staying the course to deliver this strategic national asset,” Ojulari added.
The NNPC boss also linked the project to the Federal Government’s broader energy targets under Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The successful crossing ensures that Nigeria’s gas-producing regions are now physically interconnected with the rest of the country, a key requirement for long-term energy security and supply stability,” he said.
He further acknowledged the role of the government’s Gas-to-Prosperity agenda in driving the project forward.
Industry analysts say the completion of the River Niger crossing long regarded as the most technically difficult section due to complex terrain and environmental conditions brings Nigeria closer to achieving a fully integrated national gas grid.
The OB3 pipeline is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s gas master plan, aimed at boosting domestic utilisation, reducing gas flaring, and strengthening the country’s position as a regional gas hub, while improving supply reliability for key sectors of the economy.