After years of delays, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has announced the successful completion of the River Niger crossing of the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline, marking a major milestone in the country’s energy infrastructure development.
The project, executed by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a subsidiary of NNPC, connects Obiafu/Obrikom in Rivers State to Oben in Edo State. Its progress had been hindered over time by the complex engineering challenge of traversing the River Niger.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by NNPC spokesperson Andy Odeh, the company said the successful completion of the crossing unlocks the full potential of the OB3 pipeline, which is designed to transport up to two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
The technically demanding segment, constructed approximately two kilometres beneath the riverbed, was delivered using advanced Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) technology in collaboration with PCE Nigeria Limited.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, described the achievement as a defining moment for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure expansion.
“The completion of the OB3 River Niger Crossing is a testament to disciplined execution and technical excellence. It unlocks a critical link that will enhance gas supply reliability, deepen domestic utilisation, and support power generation and industrial growth,” Ojulari said.
He noted that the milestone builds on the company’s previous success in executing the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline crossing in 2025, demonstrating growing technical capacity within the organisation.
Ojulari also credited the achievement to strong project governance, innovative engineering solutions, and the commitment of the project team and partners.
He further acknowledged the support of key stakeholders, including President Bola Tinubu and the NNPC Board of Directors, led by Chairman Ahmadu Musa Kida, for fostering a conducive environment for the project’s completion.
According to NNPC, the OB3 pipeline serves as a critical backbone linking Nigeria’s eastern and western gas networks, with extensions to the northern corridor through the AKK pipeline.
The company added that the project is expected to unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet of additional gas supply in the short term, boosting power generation, industrialisation, and regional energy trade.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, also hailed the development, describing it as a significant advancement under the federal government’s “Decade of Gas” initiative.
He said the successful crossing would enhance gas supply reliability and accelerate efforts to connect gas-producing regions with demand centres across the country.
The completion of the OB3 River Niger crossing is seen as a major step toward achieving Nigeria’s long-term energy targets, including increased gas production and improved domestic utilisation.
