The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has completed the River Niger crossing of the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure expansion.
In a statement on Thursday, the company said the milestone was achieved by its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company. 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 NNPC, the project will boost energy availability, improve supply reliability, and support economic development.
The technically complex crossing was executed about two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed by the NNPC project team and PCE Nig. Limited, using advanced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology.
Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, described the completion as a “defining milestone” for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure.
“The completion of the OB3 River Niger Crossing is 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 said the achievement builds on NNPC’s engineering and execution capability, following the successful AKK River Niger crossing in June 2025. He credited “rigorous project governance, innovative engineering solutions, adaptive problem-solving, and the unwavering commitment of our teams and PCE Nig. Limited.”
He added that the OB3 pipeline is central to NNPC’s ambition of building an integrated gas network to underpin energy security and economic development.
Ojulari acknowledged the support of the federal government under President Bola Tinubu, citing its gas-to-prosperity agenda and efforts to create a conducive business environment.
He reaffirmed NNPC’s commitment to expanding energy access and industrialisation, noting the milestone aligns with the federal government’s target of raising oil production to 3 million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030.
NNPC Limited announced the inauguration of the OB3 gas pipeline project in August 2025.
