NNPC completes OB3 pipeline crossing River Niger

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has completed the long-anticipated River Niger crossing of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline, unlocking a key segment of the country’s gas transmission network and paving the way for increased supply to power plants and industries.

The feat, delivered by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd, involved drilling approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger using advanced horizontal directional drilling technology, a method reserved for complex engineering terrains.

Announcing the development in a statement on Thursday, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, said the milestone effectively activates the full capacity of the 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline, which is designed to transport up to two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.

The statement read, “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 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.”

The firm noted that the completion would, in the near term, unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet of additional gas supply for the domestic market, with implications for electricity generation, manufacturing, and exports.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, described the crossing as a turning point for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure drive.

He said, “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.

“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 explained that the achievement was built on recent engineering successes, particularly the earlier River Niger crossing on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline project, 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 PCE Nig. Limited,” he said.

He added, “The OB3 Pipeline is central to our ambition of building an integrated and resilient gas network that underpins Nigeria’s energy security and economic development. I commend everyone involved for their doggedness and for staying the course to deliver this strategic national asset.”

The NNPC boss also linked the development to the Federal Government’s broader energy targets, including plans to raise crude oil production to three million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030.

According to him, “The successful River Niger Crossing ensures that Nigeria’s gas-producing regions are now physically interconnected with the rest of the country, a critical requirement for achieving our long-term production and supply aspirations.”

He further acknowledged the role of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in delivering the project. “We sincerely appreciate the continued support of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose Gas-to-Prosperity agenda and commitment to a conducive business environment have been instrumental in making this achievement possible.

“NNPC Limited could also not have achieved this feat without the trust and guidance of its Board of Directors,” he added.

Ojulari reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding energy access and economic growth. “At NNPC Limited, we remain fully committed to translating Nigeria’s oil and gas resources into a better standard of living for all citizens. We will continue to collaborate with our partners to deliver projects that expand energy availability, stimulate industrialisation, and improve the overall well-being of Nigerians,” he said.

He also commended host communities, project contractors, and staff of the gas infrastructure company for their persistence in overcoming technical and environmental challenges.

The OB3 pipeline is regarded as a backbone project in Nigeria’s gas master plan, linking eastern gas fields to western demand centres and further connecting to the northern corridor through the AKK pipeline.

For years, the OB3 pipeline faced delays, particularly at the River Niger crossing, widely considered the most difficult segment due to geological and environmental constraints in the Niger Delta region.

The inability to complete the crossing had limited gas flow between eastern supply hubs and western industrial markets, contributing to supply bottlenecks and underutilisation of installed power generation capacity.

With the crossing now completed, industry analysts say Nigeria is closer to building a fully integrated gas grid, a long-standing objective aimed at boosting domestic gas utilisation, reducing flaring, and positioning the country as a regional gas hub.

The development is also expected to support exports to neighbouring West African countries while strengthening the reliability of gas supply to key sectors of the Nigerian economy.