The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has completed the long-anticipated River Niger crossing of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline, unlocking a key segment of Nigeria’s national gas transmission network and paving the way for increased supply to power plants and industries.
The crossing, executed by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd, involved drilling about two kilometres beneath the River Niger using horizontal directional drilling technology for complex terrain.
In a statement issued Thursday by Chief Corporate Communications Officer Andy Odeh, the company said the milestone activates the full capacity of the 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline, designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
“The NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company … has successfully completed the River Niger crossing of the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben Gas Pipeline, marking a major milestone in the expansion of Nigeria’s national gas transmission network,” the statement said.
It added that the completion unlocks the pipeline’s full capacity, strengthening energy supply reliability and supporting economic growth.
NNPC said the development would, in the near term, release more than 500 million standard cubic feet per day of additional gas for the domestic market, boosting electricity generation, manufacturing and exports.
Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari described the project as a turning point for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure development.
“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,” Ojulari said.
He said the achievement would enhance gas supply reliability, deepen domestic utilisation and support industrial growth nationwide.
Ojulari noted that the feat builds on earlier engineering success, including the River Niger crossing of the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) pipeline completed in 2025.
He said the OB3 pipeline remains central to Nigeria’s plan to develop an integrated national gas network, linking gas-producing regions with demand centres across the country.
Ojulari commended the federal government under President Bola Tinubu, as well as contractors, host communities and project teams, for their role in delivering the project.
The OB3 pipeline is a key component of Nigeria’s gas master plan aimed at reducing gas flaring, improving domestic supply and expanding regional gas exports.
