NNPC Commissions 113km OB3 Gas Pipeline, Deploys Subcontractors to Fast-Track AKK Project

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

OB3 Pipeline Now Delivering 300mmscf/d

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has officially commissioned the 113-kilometre section of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline project.

In its July 2025 ‘Monthly Report Summary’, the national oil firm disclosed that the pipeline is currently transporting around 300 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of natural gas.

According to the report, the gas is being supplied by Ashtavinayak Hydrocarbon Ltd, contributing 250mmscf/d, while Platform, Chorus, and Xenergi Group provide 50mmscf/d.

Akahi News gathered that the OB3 project, which had faced repeated delays in the past, had been the subject of missed deadlines set by government officials. In February 2024, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, had announced March 2024 as a completion date, while in June of the same year, Mele Kyari, then Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC, projected August 2024. Both timelines were missed.

Push to Complete AKK Gas Pipeline

Meanwhile, NNPC revealed that additional subcontractors have been deployed to accelerate the completion of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project.

The oil company said the new measures were designed to fast-track mainline works and ensure timely completion of the $2.8 billion project, which has been hit by delays and challenging terrain.

On June 26, Oilserv Limited, the project contractor, announced that the AKK pipeline had successfully crossed the River Niger after years of setbacks. Just four days later, the company projected that the project could achieve mechanical completion before the end of 2025.

In July, Bayo Ojulari, the Group CEO of NNPC, reiterated the significance of the AKK pipeline, stressing that it would help revive industries in northern Nigeria and provide a much-needed boost to economic activities in the region.

Strategic Gas Infrastructure for National Development

The completion of the OB3 pipeline and the ongoing work on the AKK project are seen as key milestones in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure expansion, which the federal government has prioritised under its “Decade of Gas” initiative.

By linking production hubs in the Niger Delta to industrial centres in the north, the projects are expected to enhance energy security, reduce dependence on imported fuels, and stimulate large-scale industrial growth.

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