Nigeria is ramping up its natural gas production as part of an ambitious strategy to position the resource at the core of its energy transition. According to the Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Mr. Ed Ubong, production has increased from 6.8 billion cubic feet (BCF) per day in 2023 to 7.5 BCF per day in 2025. The government projects that output could reach 12 BCF daily by 2030 if ongoing reforms and investments continue.
Speaking at the Decade of Gas and World Bank Ministerial Roundtable in Abuja, Ubong attributed the growth to stronger collaboration across government agencies, regulators, investors, and industry players. “This progress is largely driven by partnerships across the energy value chain,” he said, emphasizing that cross-border and institutional cooperation would be vital to achieving Nigeria’s gas goals.
The Decade of Gas initiative, running from 2021 to 2030, seeks to unlock Nigeria’s vast gas reserves and drive economic growth. Ubong highlighted that more than 215 gas demand projects are now tracked via a centralised database to enhance planning and accountability. Key priorities include scaling up gas-to-power projects to improve electricity supply and expanding liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) usage to promote cleaner energy and public health, with LPG consumption targeted to rise from 1.8 million to 3 million tonnes annually by 2030.
Investor confidence is rising, with several upstream operators taking Final Investment Decisions on major projects, and the government identifying 16 priority pipeline projects requiring $22 billion in funding. Ubong stressed the need for strong public-private partnerships and support from development partners like the World Bank to deliver the infrastructure necessary for both domestic and regional gas markets.
Regional collaboration is central to Nigeria’s strategy, with initiatives like the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline and the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline set to connect markets across Africa. Aliyu Mohammed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, noted that the next phase of the Decade of Gas initiative will focus on execution, increased production, expanded pipelines, and new processing facilities. He called for harmonized regulations, credible demand data, and sustainable financing models to fully leverage Nigeria’s 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.
source: punch