NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a subsidiary of NNPC Limited, has recorded a major milestone with the successful crossing of the River Niger on the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline.
The feat unlocks the full capacity of the strategic pipeline designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, boosting national gas supply, improving energy reliability, and driving industrial growth.
The crossing was executed about two kilometres beneath the River Niger using advanced horizontal directional drilling technology by NGIC in collaboration with PCE Nig. Limited.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the development as a “defining milestone” for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure.
He said the achievement strengthens domestic gas utilisation, power generation, and industrial expansion, while showcasing the company’s growing technical capability.
Ojulari noted that the success builds on lessons from the AKK River Niger Crossing completed in 2025, crediting disciplined execution, innovation, and strong project governance.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Gas-to-Prosperity agenda, the NNPC Board led by Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, host communities, and project partners for their support.
According to him, the OB3 pipeline forms a critical backbone linking Nigeria’s eastern and western gas networks, with future extension to the northern corridor via the AKK pipeline.
In the near term, the project is expected to unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet of additional gas for the domestic market, supporting power supply, industrialisation, and regional gas trade.
NNPC Limited reaffirmed its commitment to expanding gas infrastructure to drive economic growth and improve living standards nationwide.
