ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria has reached a “defining milestone” in its quest for energy security following the successful completion of a technically challenging gas pipeline crossing beneath the River Niger.
The NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) confirmed on Thursday that it had finished the river crossing for the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) pipeline. The operation, which took place two kilometres below the riverbed, used advanced horizontal directional drilling to link Nigeria’s eastern and western gas networks.
Unlocking the ‘Backbone’ of Nigeria’s Gas
The OB3 pipeline is considered a critical piece of national infrastructure, designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari, stated that the breakthrough would immediately impact the domestic market. Key benefits include:
- Increased Supply: Unlocking over 500 million standard cubic feet of incremental gas for local use.
- Power and Industry: Providing the fuel to support power generation and industrial expansion across the country.
- Regional Reach: Enhancing gas supply routes to the wider West African market.
A Technical Feat
Engineers described the crossing as one of the most complex sections of the project. It follows a similar successful crossing for the AKK pipeline in June 2025, though officials noted that the Niger Delta environment made this latest operation even more difficult.
“This achievement is the result of deliberately leveraging and upscaling our engineering excellence,” Engr. Ojulari said, praising the collaboration between the NNPC team and PCE Nig. Limited.
Vision for 2030
The completion of this link is a central part of the Federal Government’s “Gas-to-Prosperity” agenda. It aligns with ambitious national targets to reach a production capacity of 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day by 2030.
By physically interconnecting Nigeria’s gas-producing regions with the rest of the country and the Northern corridor, the NNPC aims to build a resilient network that underpins long-term economic development.
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