How Nigeria Can Turn Gas into Power and Economic Growth – Experts Outline Path
As Nigeria observes Gas Day at NIES 2026, energy regulators and government officials are calling for decisive action to turn the nation’s abundant gas reserves into reliable electricity, industrial growth, and broad-based economic development. The discussion coincides with the launch of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC Ltd) Gas Master Plan, designed to redefine the country’s gas sector trajectory.
Speaking at the “Unlocking Nigeria’s Gas Advantage for Power, Industry and Growth” session, Saidu Mohammed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), described Nigeria’s gas market as highly promising yet underutilized. “Gas is not just an energy commodity. It is an economic enabler. Without gas, there is no electricity, without electricity there is no industrial growth, and without industrial growth, there is no economic development,” he emphasized.
Mohammed highlighted that despite decades of reforms, Nigeria’s electricity output has barely improved, remaining around 5,000 megawatts over the last 25 years. The key challenge, he explained, is not the installed capacity but irregular gas supply and weak commercial arrangements. He stressed that formal, commercially-backed gas agreements are critical for encouraging investment and ensuring consistent supply.
The NMDPRA boss also noted that infrastructure development is crucial to stimulate industrial expansion. Drawing on the Lagos–Abeokuta corridor as an example, he explained that pipeline networks attract manufacturing investments, suggesting that nationwide infrastructure growth could trigger similar industrial revival. Complementing this view, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Obongemem Ekpo said natural gas is central to Nigeria’s cleaner and more secure energy transition, with government initiatives targeting stronger gas-to-power chains, pipeline expansion, and debt resolution frameworks.
Closing the discussion, Mohammed urged stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and focus on tangible delivery. He stressed the importance of network discipline, disciplined gas supply, and balancing expanded gas utilisation with cleaner technologies. “If we get it right, gas will not only power the economy, it will shape the development of this great nation,” he concluded, highlighting the sector’s potential to drive Nigeria’s industrial and economic transformation.
source: premiumtimes