The Federal Government has directed major gas producers to ramp up Nigeria’s daily natural gas production by one billion standard cubic feet (SCF) annually over the next five years, as part of a broader plan to hit 12 billion SCF per day by 2030 and permanently eliminate routine flaring.
This directive was issued by Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), during a stakeholder engagement session with upstream gas operators held at NNPC Towers, Abuja.
Government Sets Bold Production Targets
Minister Ekpo emphasised that Nigeria must aggressively pursue ambitions to become one of the top 10 gas-consuming nations globally by 2030.
“We must grow gas production by at least one billion SCF annually till 2030,” he said. “To do this, we must accelerate drilling in joint venture assets across land, swamp, and offshore terrains.”
He further called for the urgent completion of major gas processing and evacuation infrastructure, including the AKK and OB-3 pipelines, to link supply to domestic and industrial demand centres.
Divestments Open New Opportunities
According to a statement by his spokesman, Louis Ibah, the Minister described recent oil firm divestments as a “pivotal moment” for Nigeria’s energy future. He urged stakeholders to exploit both Associated and Non-Associated Gas using modern technologies and streamlined project execution timelines.
“Capitalising on these divestments demands a clear strategy modernise facilities, speed up execution, and deploy innovative processing techniques,” Ekpo said.
Stronger Collaboration with Global Partners Urged
Ekpo also stressed the need for enhanced cooperation with international partners and technical experts to ensure successful delivery of key infrastructure projects. He cited the AKK and OB-3 pipelines as examples of strategic assets crucial to boosting domestic supply and positioning Nigeria as a regional hub.
NNPC JV Commended for Ending Routine Gas Flaring
The Minister praised the NNPC/TotalEnergies joint venture for successfully ending routine flaring across its operations and urged other producers to follow suit. He highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of converting flaring into revenue-generating assets.
“We must convert flared gas into wealth and reduce our carbon footprint,” he noted.
He also called for faster project timelines, resource efficiency, and expanded public-private partnerships to tackle funding and technical challenges.
Regulatory and Industry Leaders Back FG Agenda
Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, reaffirmed investor support, stating that the commission had identified dedicated gas assets for upcoming bid rounds.
Similarly, Hadiza Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, represented by Esege Esege, confirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fully unlocking the sector’s potential for national development.
Industry Operators Align with FG Targets
Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, NNPC Ltd, disclosed that NNPC and its partners are actively collaborating across the gas value chain. He reported that the AKK and OB-3 pipelines have reached 78% and 97% completion, respectively.
“Every domestic consumer is receiving the gas they need,” Ogunleye said. “We’re also working on improving affordability across the board.”
Stakeholders Reaffirm Commitment to Gas Expansion
The high-level meeting drew participation from MDs and CEOs of NNPC Ltd, Shell, Seplat Energy, Renaissance Energy, TotalEnergies, NAE/AENR, and Esso Exploration, who jointly pledged to accelerate development and drive Nigeria’s transition to a gas-powered economy.