NNPC completes River Niger crossing of OB3 gas pipeline, boosts national gas network

By: Amarachi Okonkwo 

The NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a subsidiary of 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.

The crossing, executed approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed, was delivered using advanced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology by the NNPC project team in collaboration with PCE Nig. Limited.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh on Thursday through their official X handle.

The OB3 pipeline is a strategic project designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, linking Nigeria’s Eastern gas network to the Western network and extending connectivity to the Northern corridor through the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline system.

According to NNPC Limited, the completion of the river crossing unlocks a critical segment of the pipeline, expected to immediately add over 500 million standard cubic feet per day of incremental gas supply to the domestic market. This is projected to boost electricity generation, industrial activity, and regional gas distribution.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the development as a defining achievement for Nigeria’s energy sector.

“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.

He noted that the project reflects improved engineering capacity within NNPC, building on lessons from the successful AKK River Niger crossing delivered in June 2025.

Ojulari also credited the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating an enabling environment through its gas development agenda, as well as the support of the NNPC Board chaired by Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida.

He added that host communities and technical partners played a crucial role in ensuring the project’s successful delivery, describing PCE Nig. Limited’s contribution as “pivotal” due to its technical expertise and disciplined execution.

The OB3 pipeline forms a key component of Nigeria’s national gas infrastructure plan aimed at supporting the government’s long-term production targets of 3 million barrels of crude oil per day and 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day by 2030.

NNPC said the milestone reinforces its commitment to expanding energy access, strengthening supply reliability, and driving industrialisation across Nigeria.