The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced significant progress on two major gas infrastructure projects, with the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben pipeline now ready to begin gas transmission and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline reaching 95 per cent completion.
According to NNPC’s July 2026 monthly report, the River Niger section of the OB3 pipeline has completed its pre-commissioning work, clearing the way for the project to commence first gas operations.
The company also reported that work on the AKK pipeline is nearing completion, with construction and installation activities sufficiently advanced to support the planned delivery of early gas to Abuja before the end of 2026.
The OB3 and AKK pipelines are key components of Nigeria’s plan to expand its gas transmission network and improve the movement of natural gas from producing areas to power plants, industries and other users.
The 130-kilometre OB3 pipeline is designed to link gas networks in the eastern and western parts of Nigeria. It has a planned capacity of up to two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
NNPC had earlier announced the completion of the pipeline’s River Niger crossing, a major engineering hurdle that involved drilling about two kilometres beneath the river using horizontal directional drilling technology.
The company said the completion of the crossing would initially make more than 500 million standard cubic feet per day of additional gas available to the domestic market, supporting electricity generation and industrial activities.
Meanwhile, the AKK pipeline is being developed to transport gas from the southern part of the country through Abuja and towards northern Nigeria. NNPC said the project is expected to provide early gas to Abuja in 2026.
The projects are part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to strengthen domestic gas supply and develop infrastructure capable of supporting increased power generation and industrial growth.
The OB3 project, which began in 2016 at an estimated cost of $700 million, has experienced several delays and missed previous completion targets.
NNPC said the latest progress represents another step towards establishing a more integrated national gas transmission system.
