NNPC Completes Critical River Niger Crossing on OB3 Gas Pipeline

NNPC has completed the critical River Niger crossing on the OB3 gas pipeline project, a major step expected to boost gas supply, improve electricity generation, and strengthen Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.

Written by Folarin Adeyemi Aluko

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has successfully completed the long-awaited River Niger crossing segment of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline project, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s push to strengthen energy infrastructure and expand domestic gas supply.

The achievement, delivered through the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), involved drilling nearly two kilometres beneath the River Niger using advanced horizontal directional drilling technology — a sophisticated engineering method typically used in difficult terrains and environmentally sensitive areas.

Announcing the development on Thursday, NNPC Ltd said the successful completion unlocks the full operational capacity of the 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline, which is designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily across the country.

According to the company, the project is expected to significantly improve gas supply to power plants, industries, manufacturers, and export markets, while also strengthening Nigeria’s long-term energy security.

“The successful crossing unlocks the full potential of the OB3 pipeline, a strategic infrastructure designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day,” the statement said.

NNPC noted that the completion of the critical section could immediately deliver more than 500 million standard cubic feet per day of additional gas supply into the domestic market.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, described the development as a defining moment for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure expansion efforts.

According to him, the successful River Niger crossing demonstrates the country’s growing engineering capacity and commitment to delivering complex national projects.

“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 stated.

He explained that the achievement built on lessons and technical expertise gained from the successful River Niger crossing on the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Pipeline Project completed in 2025.

Ojulari added that the OB3 pipeline remains central to Nigeria’s broader ambition of creating an integrated national gas network capable of connecting gas-producing regions in the east to demand centres in the west and northern parts of the country.

The project also aligns with the Federal Government’s “Gas-to-Prosperity” agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which aims to increase crude oil production to 3 million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion standard cubic feet daily by 2030.

For years, the River Niger crossing remained the most technically difficult phase of the OB3 project due to challenging geological and environmental conditions that repeatedly delayed progress.

Industry analysts say the successful completion now brings Nigeria closer to achieving a fully integrated national gas grid — a long-standing objective expected to reduce gas flaring, improve electricity generation, support industrialisation, and strengthen Nigeria’s role as a regional energy hub in West Africa.

The development is also expected to improve gas supply reliability for manufacturers and power generation companies while supporting increased exports to neighbouring countries