By Benson Daniel
The Obiafu Obrikom Oben gas pipeline is ready for first gas, while construction of the Ajaokuta Kaduna Kano pipeline has reached 95 per cent completion, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has said.
The update was contained in NNPC’s July 2026 monthly report, which showed that pre commissioning activities on the OB3 River Niger Crossing had been completed in preparation for first gas.
NNPC placed the OB3 project at 100 per cent completion, while the AKK pipeline stood at 95 per cent.
The company said construction and installation works on the early gas component of the AKK project were at an advanced stage, with gas delivery to Abuja expected in 2026.
The progress on the two projects is significant for Nigeria’s plans to expand its domestic gas infrastructure and create a more integrated national transmission network.
The 130 kilometre OB3 pipeline is designed to transport up to two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day and connect the eastern and western gas networks. Its completion is expected to improve the movement of gas to power plants, industries and other domestic users.
A critical component of the project was the River Niger crossing, which had remained one of the major technical challenges delaying completion. The crossing was executed approximately two kilometres beneath the riverbed using horizontal directional drilling technology.
NNPC had earlier said the successful completion of the crossing unlocked the full potential of the OB3 pipeline and could make more than 500 million standard cubic feet of additional gas available to the domestic market in the near term.
The additional supply is expected to support electricity generation and industrial activity while also strengthening the reliability of Nigeria’s gas network.
The AKK pipeline is equally important to the country’s gas expansion plans because it is designed to transport gas from Ajaokuta through Kaduna to Kano, extending the national gas network towards northern Nigeria.
The project is expected to improve gas availability for power generation, industries and other commercial users along the corridor.
NNPC said the early gas component is being prioritised to enable Abuja to begin receiving gas in 2026, even as work continues on the wider project.
The development comes as the Federal Government places greater emphasis on natural gas as a driver of industrialisation and energy security.
Nigeria has significant natural gas reserves, but inadequate transportation infrastructure has historically limited the ability to move supplies from producing areas to major demand centres.
The completion of major pipelines such as OB3 and AKK could help address that constraint by improving connectivity between gas producing regions and markets.
The projects are also expected to support the government’s broader ambition of increasing domestic gas utilisation, particularly in electricity generation and industrial production.
For the power sector, more reliable gas transportation could help reduce disruptions linked to inadequate fuel supply to gas fired power plants. Manufacturers and other gas dependent industries could similarly benefit from improved availability.
NNPC’s latest update indicates that the long awaited OB3 project has moved into the final stage before first gas, while AKK is approaching completion.
The company said both projects remain central to its efforts to expand Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and support increased energy availability across the country.
If the timelines are maintained, the commissioning of OB3 and the delivery of early gas through AKK could mark an important step towards building a more connected gas market and reducing infrastructure constraints that have limited Nigeria’s ability to fully utilise its natural gas resources.
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