The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited(NNPCL) has completed the long-delayed River Niger crossing of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline, unlocking a critical segment of Nigeria’s gas transmission network and paving the way for increased supply to power plants and industries.
The milestone, delivered by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, involved drilling nearly two kilometres beneath the River Niger using advanced horizontal directional drilling technology—an approach typically reserved for complex engineering environments.
Announcing the development, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, said the achievement activates the full capacity of the 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline. The infrastructure is designed to transport up to two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
According to the company, the completion will immediately unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet of additional gas supply for the domestic market, with significant implications for electricity generation, manufacturing, and exports.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, described the crossing as a turning point in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure expansion.
“The completion of the OB3 River Niger Crossing is a defining milestone for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and a clear demonstration of disciplined execution and sustained commitment to excellence,” he said.
Ojulari noted that the achievement builds on earlier engineering successes, particularly the River Niger crossing on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline project completed in 2025. He said the company leveraged technical expertise, strong project governance, and innovative engineering solutions to overcome longstanding challenges.
The OB3 pipeline is regarded as a backbone project within Nigeria’s gas master plan, linking eastern gas supply hubs to western demand centres and extending connectivity to the northern corridor through the AKK pipeline.
For years, progress on the project was hindered by the technical complexity of crossing the River Niger, especially due to difficult geological and environmental conditions in the Niger Delta region. The delay had constrained gas flow between regions, contributing to supply bottlenecks and underutilised power generation capacity.
With the crossing now completed, industry observers say Nigeria is closer to achieving a fully integrated gas network—an objective aimed at boosting domestic gas utilisation, reducing flaring, and positioning the country as a regional energy hub.
Ojulari also linked the development to the Federal Government’s broader energy targets, including plans to raise crude oil production to three million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030 under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He commended the support of the government, host communities, contractors, and project teams, noting that their collaboration was key to overcoming technical and environmental challenges.
The completion of the OB3 River Niger crossing is expected to improve supply reliability across key sectors of the Nigerian economy while opening new opportunities for regional gas exports within West Africa.
