The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) says it has successfully completed the River Niger crossing of the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline, a major milestone in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure expansion.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement on Thursday, the company said the achievement was delivered through its subsidiary, the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, marking a critical step in strengthening the country’s gas transmission network.
NNPC said the completion of the crossing unlocks the full capacity of the OB3 pipeline, which is designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
According to the company, the project is expected to boost energy availability, improve supply reliability, and support broader economic growth.
“Executed approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed, the technically complex crossing was delivered by the NNPC project team working with PCE Nig. Limited, using advanced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology,” the statement said.
‘A defining milestone’ — Ojulari
Commending the development, Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer of NNPC Ltd, described the feat as evidence of technical discipline and execution capacity.
“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,” he 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 project builds on lessons from previous engineering successes, including the AKK River Niger crossing completed in June 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 noted that the OB3 pipeline is central to NNPC’s strategy of developing a resilient national gas network to support energy security and economic growth.
“I commend everyone involved for their doggedness and for staying the course to deliver this strategic national asset,” he added.
Ojulari also acknowledged the support of stakeholders, including the federal government under President Bola Tinubu, saying its gas-to-prosperity agenda contributed to the project’s progress.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to leveraging Nigeria’s oil and gas resources to improve living standards and support industrialisation, aligning with national targets of 3 million barrels of oil per day and 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas by 2030.
NNPC had earlier announced in August 2025 that the OB3 gas pipeline project had been formally inaugurated.
