By JKNewsMedia
GAS INFRASTRUCTURE expansion advanced as Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited said it has confirmed the successful completion of the River Niger Crossing on the 130 kilometre Obiafu Obrikom Oben Gas Pipeline.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of NNPC Limited, disclosed it had delivered the crossing as part of efforts to expand the national gas transmission network.
A statement by the NNPC said the development unlocks the full capacity of the OB3 Pipeline, designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
Executed about two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed, the crossing was completed by the NNPC project team in collaboration with PCE Nig. Limited using horizontal directional drilling technology.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the milestone as a demonstration of disciplined execution and technical excellence.
“The completion of the OB3 River Niger Crossing is a defining milestone for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and a clear demonstration of what disciplined execution and sustained commitment to excellence can deliver.
“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 utilisation, and support power generation and industrial growth across the country,” he said.
He added that the achievement builds on the company’s engineering capability following the AKK River Niger Crossing completed in June 2025, noting that the OB3 project involved a more complex crossing within the Niger Delta environment.
“This achievement is not incidental. It is the result of deliberately leveraging and upscaling our AKK engineering and execution excellence through rigorous project governance, innovative engineering solutions, adaptive problem solving, and the unwavering commitment of our teams and PCE Nig. Limited.
“The OB3 Pipeline is central to our ambition of building an integrated and resilient gas network that underpins Nigeria’s energy security and economic development. I commend everyone involved for their doggedness and for staying the course to deliver this strategic national asset,” he said.
Ojulari also acknowledged support from the Federal Government and the Board of Directors.
“We sincerely appreciate the continued support of the Federal Government under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose Gas to Prosperity agenda and commitment to a conducive business environment have been instrumental in making this achievement possible.
“NNPC Limited could also not have achieved this feat without the trust and guidance of its Board of Directors, under the leadership of our Chairman, Engr Ahmadu Musa Kida,” he said.
Reaffirming the company’s mandate, he said NNPC Limited would continue to collaborate with partners to deliver projects that expand energy availability and improve wellbeing.
“At NNPC Limited, we remain fully committed to translating Nigeria’s oil and gas resources into a better standard of living for all citizens. We will continue to collaborate with our partners to deliver projects that expand energy availability, stimulate industrialisation, and improve the overall wellbeing of Nigerians,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the host community, the management and staff of NGIC, and PCE Nig. Limited for their roles in achieving the milestone.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that the company stated that the development aligns with Federal Government targets of reaching 3 million barrels of crude oil per day and 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day by 2030, noting that the crossing physically connects gas producing regions with other parts of the country.
It also notes that the OB3 Pipeline serves as a backbone infrastructure linking the Eastern and Western gas networks and extending connectivity to the Northern corridor through the AKK Pipeline.
The crossing, NNPC notes, is expected to unlock over 500 million standard cubic feet of incremental gas supply for the domestic market.
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