NNPC achieves major milestone with River Niger crossing on OB3 gas pipeline

Abdullateef Fowewe

NNPC Limited has announced a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure, with its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), successfully completing the River Niger Crossing for the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline.

The crossing, executed about two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed using advanced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology, was carried out by the NNPC project team in partnership with PCE Nigeria Limited.

This unlocks the pipeline’s full capacity to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, boosting energy reliability, power generation, and industrial growth.

NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, hailed the feat as “a defining milestone for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and a clear demonstration of what disciplined execution and sustained commitment to excellence can deliver.”

He emphasised that it builds on the successful AKK River Niger Crossing in June 2025, crediting “rigorous project governance, innovative engineering solutions, adaptive problem-solving, and the unwavering commitment of our teams and PCE Nig. Limited.”

Ojulari also thanked key stakeholders, stating, “We sincerely appreciate the continued support of the Federal Government under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, whose Gas-to-Prosperity agenda has been instrumental in making this achievement possible.”

He reaffirmed NNPC’s commitment: “At NNPC Limited, we remain fully committed to translating Nigeria’s oil and gas resources into a better standard of living for all citizens.”

The milestone aligns with the government’s targets of 3 million barrels of crude oil per day and 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day by 2030, strengthening Nigeria’s energy security.