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NNPC says the 130-kilometre OB3 gas pipeline has completed pre-commissioning activities and is ready for first gas.
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The pipeline can transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily and is expected to unlock more than 500 million scf/d of additional domestic supply.
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The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline has reached 95 percent completion, with NNPC targeting early gas delivery to Abuja in 2026.
September 03, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has said the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline is ready for first gas, marking a major milestone in the development of Nigeria’s gas transmission infrastructure.
NNPC disclosed this in its July 2026 monthly report, stating that pre-commissioning activities at the OB3 River Niger Crossing had been completed in preparation for first gas.
The company placed the OB3 project at 100 percent completion, while the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline was reported at 95 percent.
The 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline is designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, linking gas supplies between Nigeria’s eastern and western regions.
Its completion is expected to strengthen the national gas network and improve supplies to power plants, industries and other domestic users.
River Niger crossing unlocks gas supply
The latest milestone follows the completion of the technically challenging River Niger crossing in April.
The crossing, delivered by NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, involved drilling approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger using horizontal directional drilling technology.
NNPC said the completion effectively activated the full capacity of the OB3 pipeline and would, in the near term, unlock more than 500 million standard cubic feet per day of additional gas supply for the domestic market.
The additional supply could support electricity generation and manufacturing while improving the reliability of gas availability across the country.
NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari has described OB3 as central to the Federal Government’s ambition of developing an integrated and resilient national gas network.
The company has also linked the project to Nigeria’s broader energy targets, including increasing crude oil production to 3 million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030.
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AKK moves closer to northern gas supply
Meanwhile, construction and installation works on the AKK pipeline have reached 95 percent completion, according to NNPC.
The company said the project was at an advanced stage and remained on course to deliver early gas to Abuja in 2026.
The AKK pipeline is being developed to transport gas from Ajaokuta in Kogi State through Kaduna to Kano, creating a major gas transportation corridor for Abuja and northern Nigeria.
NNPC, however, did not provide a specific commissioning date or the expected volume of gas from the early-gas phase in its July report.
The project is expected to improve access to natural gas for power generation, manufacturing and other industries in northern Nigeria.
OB3 emerges from years of delays
The OB3 milestone is particularly significant because the project, which began in 2016 at an estimated cost of $700 million, has faced several delays, largely around the complex River Niger crossing.
With OB3 now declared ready for first gas and AKK at 95 percent completion, Nigeria is moving closer to a more interconnected gas transmission network.
The immediate test, however, will be whether the new infrastructure translates into sustained gas supply for power plants and industries, given continuing constraints around gas production, commercial arrangements and distribution.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
