The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has completed the long-anticipated River Niger crossing of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline, unlocking a critical 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 deployed in complex engineering terrains.
Announcing the development in a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, the company said the milestone effectively activates the full capacity of the 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline, designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
The statement partly 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 company noted that the completion would, in the near term, unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet per day of additional gas supply for the domestic market, with positive 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 earlier engineering successes, particularly the River Niger crossing on the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano, AKK, 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 that the OB3 pipeline remains central to Nigeria’s ambition of building an integrated and resilient gas network.
“I commend everyone involved for their doggedness and for staying the course to deliver this strategic national asset,” he said.
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Ojulari also linked the project to the Federal Government’s broader energy targets, including plans to increase crude oil production to 3 million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030.
According to him, 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 expressed appreciation to the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the Gas-to-Prosperity agenda had been instrumental to the project’s success.
Ojulari also commended the NNPC Ltd board, host communities, contractors, and project teams for their commitment in overcoming technical and environmental challenges.
The OB3 pipeline is a major component of Nigeria’s gas master plan, designed to link eastern gas supply hubs with western demand centres and connect further to the northern corridor through the AKK pipeline.
For years, the project was delayed at the River Niger crossing, widely regarded as its most technically difficult section due to complex geological and environmental conditions.
With the completion of the crossing, analysts say Nigeria is closer to achieving a fully integrated national gas grid, a long-standing objective aimed at boosting domestic utilisation, reducing gas flaring, and strengthening Nigeria’s position as a regional gas hub.
The development is also expected to enhance gas exports to neighbouring West African countries while improving supply reliability for critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.
PUNCH NEWS
