In a bold move to reposition Nigeria’s gas industry for global relevance, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has called on major gas producers in the country to ramp up daily output by one billion standard cubic feet (SCF) every year between 2025 and 2030.
Ekpo issued the directive during a high-level stakeholder engagement held on Monday at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.
The meeting, which brought together top players in Nigeria’s upstream gas industry, was aimed at aligning strategies to meet the Federal Government’s target of 12 billion SCF of gas production per day by 2030—up from the current 7.3 billion SCF.
“We need to grow natural gas production by at least 1 BCF annually till 2030,” the minister said. “Nigeria must emerge among the top 10 natural gas-consuming nations by the end of the decade.”
Ekpo stressed the need for aggressive drilling across joint venture assets in various terrains, including land, swamp, and offshore, as well as the fast-tracking of critical infrastructure like gas processing and evacuation projects.
In a statement released by his media aide, Louis Ibah, the minister also noted that recent divestments by International Oil Companies (IOCs) present a unique opportunity for the country to accelerate both Associated and Non-Associated Gas exploitation.
“These divestments should not be seen as setbacks but as an opportunity for strategic advancement,” Ekpo said, urging stakeholders to modernize facilities and adopt innovative gas technologies to boost production efficiency.
He also emphasized the importance of timely delivery of key infrastructure projects such as the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) and Obiafu–Obrikom–Oben (OB-3) gas pipelines, which he described as crucial to domestic and industrial gas distribution.
Commending the NNPC/TotalEnergies Joint Venture for achieving zero routine gas flaring, the minister encouraged other operators to follow suit, saying such practices not only reduce environmental impact but also create economic value from previously wasted resources.
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On tackling challenges facing the sector, Ekpo advocated for public-private partnerships, improved funding mechanisms, and collaboration with international technical experts to boost execution and sustainability.
Also speaking at the event, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, assured investors of regulatory support, revealing that dedicated gas assets have been earmarked for upcoming bid rounds.
Representing the presidency, Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Usman—through her delegate Esege Esege—reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s strong interest in unlocking the sector’s potential to drive national growth.
Meanwhile, NNPC Ltd.’s Executive Vice President for Gas, Power, and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, gave assurances that domestic gas needs were being met through collaborative industry efforts.
He also disclosed that the AKK and OB-3 pipeline projects had reached 78% and 97% completion, respectively.
“We are on course to deliver these projects on time,” Ogunleye affirmed.
Attendees at the session included top executives from Shell Nigeria, Seplat Energy, Renaissance Energy, TotalEnergies, Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE/AENR), and Esso Exploration—who collectively pledged to work towards maximizing Nigeria’s vast gas potential for economic transformation.