NNPC Completes River Niger Crossing On OB3 Gas Pipeline, Boosts National Energy Network
The NNPC Limited has recorded a major milestone with the successful completion of the River Niger crossing on the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline, a key infrastructure project aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s gas transmission capacity.
The breakthrough was achieved by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a subsidiary of NNPC Limited, marking a significant step in expanding the country’s national gas network.
The 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline is designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. The successful crossing—executed approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed—unlocks the full operational capacity of the pipeline, enhancing energy supply reliability and supporting economic growth.
The technically complex operation was delivered in collaboration with PCE Nig. Limited using advanced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology.
Reacting to the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the achievement as a defining moment for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure development.
He said the successful crossing of one of the most challenging segments of the project demonstrates the company’s commitment to technical excellence and disciplined execution, adding that it would significantly enhance domestic gas utilisation, power generation, and industrial expansion.
Ojulari noted that the milestone builds on previous engineering successes, including the AKK River Niger crossing completed in 2025, highlighting the company’s growing capacity to deliver complex energy infrastructure in difficult terrains.
He also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the administration’s Gas-to-Prosperity agenda and enabling business environment were instrumental to the project’s success. He further commended the NNPC Board, led by Ahmadu Musa Kida, for its guidance.
The NNPC chief reiterated the company’s commitment to leveraging Nigeria’s oil and gas resources to improve living standards, pledging continued collaboration with partners to expand energy access and drive industrialisation.
He also expressed appreciation to the host communities, the NGIC team, and PCE Nig. Limited for their roles in achieving the milestone.
The OB3 pipeline serves as a critical backbone linking Nigeria’s eastern and western gas networks, with further connectivity to the northern corridor through the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline.
With the successful River Niger crossing, the project is expected to unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet of additional gas supply in the near term, boosting power generation, supporting industrial growth, and enhancing gas exports within the West African region.
The development aligns with the Federal Government’s target of achieving 3 million barrels of crude oil production per day and 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas output daily by 2030.
The statement was signed by Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Limited, on April 30, 2026, in Abuja.
