Nigeria has recorded a major milestone with the successful implementation of the River Niger crossing on the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline, a development that significantly advances Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and energy distribution network.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, in a statement on Thursday, said the achievement, executed by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), marks the completion of one of the most technically challenging segments of the 130-kilometre pipeline project.
The crossing, constructed approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger using advanced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology, effectively unlocks the full capacity of the OB3 pipeline, which is designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
The OB3 pipeline itself has a long development history, conceived as a strategic backbone project to bridge Nigeria’s eastern and western gas networks. Initiated over a decade ago under the former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the project faced multiple delays due to funding constraints, technical complexities—particularly around the River Niger crossing—and security concerns in parts of the Niger Delta. Over time, it evolved into a priority national infrastructure under successive administrations, forming a key part of Nigeria’s gas master plan and its push toward a more integrated and resilient domestic gas grid.
With the successful crossing now completed, Nigeria’s eastern and western gas networks are fully interconnected, strengthening supply reliability and enhancing domestic gas utilisation.
The project is also expected to unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet of incremental gas supply in the near term, supporting power generation, industrial expansion, and broader economic growth.
Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Mr Bayo Ojulari, described the development as a defining milestone for the country’s gas infrastructure, noting that it reflects disciplined execution and technical excellence.
He added that the project builds on previous engineering successes, including the AKK River Niger crossing completed in 2025, and demonstrates the company’s growing capacity to deliver complex energy infrastructure.
The OB3 pipeline serves as a critical backbone linking key gas-producing regions across the country and extending connectivity to the northern corridor through the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline. By enabling seamless gas transmission across regions, the infrastructure is expected to deepen domestic supply, reduce flaring, and support Nigeria’s long-term energy security goals.
He commended President Bola Tinubu as well as project partners and host communities for their role in delivering the milestone.
The successful implementation of the River Niger crossing aligns with the government’s broader target of increasing gas production to 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030, while positioning Nigeria as a stronger player in both domestic and regional energy markets.
