The NNPC Limited has recorded a significant milestone in Nigeria’s energy sector as its subsidiary, the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), successfully completed the River Niger crossing of the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline.
The technically complex crossing, executed approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed , was delivered using advanced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology in collaboration with PCE Nig. Limited. The achievement unlocks the full capacity of the OB3 pipeline, designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, significantly boosting energy supply, reliability, and economic growth.
Commending the milestone, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described it as a defining moment for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure.
“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.”
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Ojulari noted that the success builds on the company’s earlier achievement with the AKK River Niger Crossing in June 2025, highlighting NNPC’s growing engineering capability.
“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. The OB3 Pipeline is central to our ambition of building an integrated and resilient gas network that underpins Nigeria’s energy security and economic development. I commend everyone involved for their doggedness and for staying the course to deliver this strategic national asset.”
He also acknowledged the role of key stakeholders, including the Federal Government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We sincerely appreciate the continued support of the Federal Government under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose Gas-to-Prosperity agenda and commitment to a conducive business environment have been instrumental in making this achievement possible. NNPC Limited could also not have achieved this feat without the trust and guidance of its Board of Directors, under the leadership of our Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida.”
Reaffirming the company’s mandate, Ojulari added:
“At NNPC Limited, we remain fully committed to translating Nigeria’s oil and gas resources into a better standard of living for all citizens. We will continue to collaborate with our partners to deliver projects that expand energy availability, stimulate industrialisation, and improve the overall wellbeing of Nigerians.”
He further expressed appreciation to host communities, NGIC staff, and PCE Nig. Limited for their roles in delivering the project.
The OB3 pipeline serves as a critical backbone connecting Nigeria’s eastern and western gas networks, with further linkage to the northern corridor through the AKK pipeline. The completed River Niger crossing ensures full interconnectivity of gas-producing regions nationwide.
In the near term, the project is expected to unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet of additional gas supply for the domestic market, supporting power generation, industrial expansion, and exports to the West African region.
The milestone aligns with the Federal Government’s broader energy targets of achieving 3 million barrels of crude oil per day and 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas production daily by 2030, reinforcing Nigeria’s push toward energy security and economic growth.
