NNPC Confirms Completion Of OB3 River Niger Pipeline Crossing Project

According to Ireporter Online, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Gas Infrastructure Company has announced the successful completion of the River Niger Crossing on the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline, describing it as a significant milestone in the ongoing expansion of Nigeria’s gas transmission network.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NGIC, Andy Odeh, the company confirmed that the development unlocks the full capacity of the strategic OB3 pipeline, which is designed to transport up to two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. The completion of the river crossing, executed approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger using advanced horizontal directional drilling technology, was achieved through collaboration between the NNPC project team and PCE Nig. Limited.

The statement noted that the project, when fully operational, is expected to significantly improve gas supply reliability, boost energy availability, and accelerate national economic development. It further described the River Niger crossing as one of the most technically demanding phases of the pipeline project.

Commending the achievement, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the feat as a landmark development for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure, stressing that it reflects disciplined execution and strong technical capacity. He added that the successful delivery would strengthen domestic gas utilisation, enhance power generation, and support industrial growth across the country.

Ojulari also referenced the earlier completion of the AKK River Niger Crossing in June 2025, noting that the latest achievement builds on improved engineering capacity within the organisation. He attributed the success to effective project governance, innovative engineering solutions, and the dedication of both NNPC teams and its partners.

He further reaffirmed that the OB3 pipeline remains central to NNPC’s strategy of building an integrated and resilient national gas network. The NNPC chief also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s support through the Gas-to-Prosperity agenda, as well as to the company’s board, stakeholders, host communities, and project teams.

Ojulari emphasised that NNPC Limited remains committed to harnessing Nigeria’s oil and gas resources for national development, adding that ongoing projects are aimed at expanding energy access, driving industrialisation, and improving living standards.

The OB3 pipeline is expected to serve as a key infrastructure link between Nigeria’s eastern and western gas corridors while extending supply to the northern region through the AKK pipeline. Upon completion, it is projected to unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet of additional gas supply for the domestic market, with wider implications for power generation, industrial expansion, and regional exports within West Africa.