Ekpo pushes gas infrastructure to drive Nigeria’s industrialisation

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has outlined reforms, infrastructure expansion and investment drives aimed at unlocking the country’s vast gas potential. He spoke on Thursday at the National Gas Day session of the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2026) in Abuja. Nigeria, he said, is at a […]

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has outlined reforms, infrastructure expansion and investment drives aimed at unlocking the country’s vast gas potential.

He spoke on Thursday at the National Gas Day session of the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2026) in Abuja.

Nigeria, he said, is at a defining moment in the global energy landscape and must convert its abundant gas reserves into tangible benefits for citizens through electricity access, jobs and industrial development.

He said: “The true value of our gas wealth lies not in reserves alone, but in its impact on the lives and prosperity of our people.”

The government, he said, plans to introduce long-term supply agreements for power plants, expand pipelines and processing facilities, and implement a National Gas Infrastructure Command Centre to coordinate and monitor critical assets across the country.

He highlighted several milestones recorded under the administration’s Decade of Gas Initiative.

These, he said, include increased domestication of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) produced in-country to stabilize cooking gas prices, and the resolution of long-standing gas-to-power debts owed to producers — a move expected to restore investor confidence and unlock fresh supply to power plants.

He disclosed that the government has rolled out a nationwide Free LPG Cylinder Distribution Programme to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking energy, reduce deforestation and improve public health outcomes.

Apart from power generation, the minister said gas would serve as a catalyst for industrialisation, supporting sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, petrochemicals and transport.

He mentioned plans for gas-based industrial hubs, including the proposed Brass Gas Hub, and expanded use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and LPG by households, small businesses and transport operators.

Ekpo said reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), alongside collaboration with regulators and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), are aimed at ensuring cost-reflective pricing, simplified licensing, improved local content and faster project delivery timelines.

He maintained that improved energy access would help reduce poverty, promote social equity and strengthen regional stability, while positioning Nigeria as a key supplier of gas to West Africa through LNG exports and cross-border pipelines.

He said the government remains focused on building a gas-driven economy capable of delivering both domestic prosperity and international competitiveness.