The NNPC Limited has recorded a significant milestone in Nigeria’s energy sector with the successful completion of the River Niger crossing on the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline project.
The achievement was delivered by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a subsidiary of NNPC Limited, marking a major step forward in expanding the country’s national gas transmission network.
The successful crossing unlocks the full capacity of the 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline, a critical infrastructure designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. This is expected to boost energy availability, improve supply reliability, and support Nigeria’s broader economic growth.
The technically complex operation was executed approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger using advanced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology. The project was delivered through collaboration between NNPC’s project team and PCE Nig. Limited.
Commending the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the milestone as a reflection of strong execution and engineering excellence.
According to him, “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.”
Ojulari noted that the success builds on NNPC’s growing engineering capabilities, following the earlier AKK River Niger crossing completed in June 2025, and represents an even more complex achievement within the Niger Delta environment.
“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 added.
The NNPC boss also acknowledged the support of key stakeholders, including the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that national policies and reforms have played a vital role in enabling such large-scale infrastructure delivery.
He said, “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, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida.”
Reaffirming the company’s commitment to national development, 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 also expressed appreciation to host communities for their support and commended PCE Nig. Limited for its technical expertise and professionalism in delivering the project.
The milestone aligns with Nigeria’s broader energy targets, including plans to reach 3 million barrels of crude oil production per day and 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day by 2030.
With the successful River Niger crossing, Nigeria’s gas-producing regions are now physically connected to other parts of the country. The OB3 pipeline serves as a vital backbone linking eastern and western gas networks, while also extending connectivity to the northern corridor through the AKK pipeline.
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 gas exports to the West African region.
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