The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has described the successful completion of the River Niger Crossing on the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline as a “defining milestone” for Nigeria’s energy sector, saying it represents a major leap in the country’s gas infrastructure development and economic ambitions.
“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,” 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 utilisation, and support power generation and industrial growth across the country.”
The crossing, executed approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed, was delivered by the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a subsidiary of NNPC Limited, in collaboration with PCE Nig. Limited, using advanced horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology.
Ojulari noted that the achievement was not accidental, but the result of deliberate engineering improvements and lessons drawn from previous national projects.
“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,” he said.
He explained that the OB3 pipeline remains central to Nigeria’s ambition of building an integrated gas network capable of driving industrialisation and strengthening energy security.
“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,” he added.
“I commend everyone involved for their doggedness and for staying the course to deliver this strategic national asset.”
The NNPC boss also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, for enabling progress in the gas sector through its policy direction.
“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,” he said.
He further commended the NNPC Board of Directors, led by Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, for providing strategic oversight and direction throughout the project.
Ojulari also praised host communities for their cooperation and acknowledged PCE Nig. Limited for its technical expertise and professionalism in delivering the complex engineering works.
The River Niger Crossing marks a critical breakthrough in the OB3 Gas Pipeline project, which spans 130 kilometres and is designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
With the successful completion of this section, the pipeline now fully unlocks its capacity and strengthens Nigeria’s gas transmission backbone, linking the Eastern gas network with the Western corridor and extending connectivity to the Northern region through the AKK pipeline system.
In the near term, the project is expected to release over 500 million standard cubic feet of incremental gas into the domestic market, improving electricity generation, supporting industrial growth, and enhancing regional gas supply capacity across West Africa.
NNPC Limited says the milestone also reinforces Nigeria’s long-term energy strategy, aligned with national production targets of 3 million barrels of crude oil per day and 12 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day by 2030, driven by an integrated and efficient national gas infrastructure network.
Boluwatife Enome
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