Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, announced on Tuesday that the Obiafu/Obrikom/Oben (OB3) gas pipeline is on track for completion in March 2024.

Ekpo made the announcement during his address at the opening ceremony of the 7th edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2024) in Abuja. 

Hon. Ekpo said the new completion date aligns with estimates provided by Oilserv Limited, the project contractor.

The 127-kilometer, 48-inch diameter pipeline is expected to transport 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Obiafu, Obrikom, and Oben fields to the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline.

Ekpo previously assured the Senate Committee on Gas in late 2023 that the project would be completed by the end of that year. 

He commended the contractors for their dedication and highlighted the importance of the project for Nigeria's economic development.

The Minister expressed confidence in the government's commitment to completing and commissioning the pipeline on time, praising the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Group for its efforts in advancing the project.

Expected to transport over at least 2 billion cubic feet of gas daily, the OB3 gas pipeline project is deemed a significant infrastructure project promising to boost the domestic gas supply and support the growth of various industries in Nigeria.