The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced the completion of the River Niger crossing for its OB3 gas pipeline, a $700 million, 130‑kilometre project that began in 2016. The milestone, reached ten years after the national gas transmission network expansion was launched, marks the first full link between the eastern gas basin and the western and northern regions of the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NNPCL spokesperson Andy Odey confirmed that the crossing of the Niger River enables the OB3 pipeline to operate at its designed capacity of 2 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bscfd). The pipeline will transport gas from the Obiafu‑Obrikom‑Oben field to the western and northern corridors via the existing AKK pipeline, creating a continuous gas supply corridor across Nigeria.
Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari hailed the achievement as evidence of disciplined execution and technical expertise. “The completion of the OB3 River Niger crossing is a defining milestone for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure,” Ojulari said. “By successfully traversing one of the most technically challenging sections of the project, we have unlocked a critical link that will enhance gas supply reliability, deepen domestic utilization, and support power generation and industrial growth across the country.”
The operationalisation of the crossing is expected to add more than 500 million standard cubic feet per day of gas to Nigeria’s domestic market. This additional supply will bolster power stations, stimulate industrial activity and increase the volume of gas available for export to the West African sub‑regional market.
The OB3 pipeline forms part of a broader strategy to integrate Nigeria’s fragmented gas networks. The project follows the successful completion of the AKK pipeline’s River Niger crossing in June 2023, which similarly linked gas supplies from the southeast to the central and northern regions. Together, the two pipelines are set to create a unified gas transmission system that improves market access, reduces bottlenecks and enhances the overall security of energy supply.
With the River Niger crossing finalized, NNPCL will focus on commissioning the remaining sections of the OB3 line and completing ancillary works required for full commercial operation. The company expects the pipeline to be fully operational later this year, subject to regulatory approvals and final testing.
The completion of the OB3 crossing underscores Nigeria’s commitment to expanding its gas infrastructure, a key component of the nation’s energy diversification and industrialisation agenda. By linking major gas‑producing basins to demand centres, the project aims to reduce reliance on imported fuels, lower electricity costs and stimulate economic growth across the region.
