Ekpo: Nigeria is Set to Speahead West Africa Shift to Gas

Nigeria is leveraging a 10-year strategy to turn its vast gas reserves into a driver of industrial growth, job creation, and clean energy, aiming to become West Africa’s top natural gas hub. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, highlighted the government’s dedication to the “Decade of Gas Initiative” during the Gas Utilization Unlock Validation Series in Lagos, emphasizing the plan’s role in centering gas in the nation’s economic and energy transformation.

According to the report from Business Day, “This initiative signifies the first phase of a concerted effort to reposition Nigeria as a gas-driven industrial power,” Ekpo said, highlighting the strategic importance of converting the country’s substantial gas reserves into measurable socioeconomic gains.

The Minister stressed that the program is more than just a policy—it’s a blueprint for cooperation between government, investors, and regulators. The aim is to use Nigeria’s gas to boost local industry, strengthen supply chains, and grow export revenue. Ekpo noted that Nigeria plans to add 4.7 billion cubic feet of gas per day by 2030, vital for meeting local energy needs and tapping regional export markets. “We have enough gas for both markets; the challenge is delivering projects on time and at scale,” he added.

Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, gas is a key pillar of Nigeria’s energy and industrial strategy. The administration is using infrastructure upgrades, pricing reforms, and investment incentives to make Nigeria a regional leader in gas use and trade. The Decade of Gas Initiative promises three major benefits, such as boosting the productivity by fueling industries and SMEs with reliable energy, replace polluting fuels with cleaner gas and strengthen Nigeria’s role in regional energy trade.

The government has formed the Decade of Gas Sponsors Group, led by Ekpo, to align public and private efforts. The group will harmonize policy, regulation, and investment, ensure transparency, and oversee project delivery. “This group unites government and industry to turn potential into results,” Ekpo said. The Gas Utilisation Unlock Validation Series—a platform for tracking progress, engaging stakeholders, and attracting investment—is central to making the initiative work.

Ekpo called natural gas “the engine of Nigeria’s future economy,” stressing it’s pivotal for industrial growth. The government plans to build a gas-driven ecosystem in fertilizers, petrochemicals, power, transport, and household LPG access. The Decade of Gas is Nigeria’s answer to global decarbonization: adapt, lead, and execute. “Collaboration and innovation are critical—we need results, not just plans,” he said.

“Align every policy, investment, and project toward energy independence, industrial growth, and sustainability.” The event united officials, investors, and regulators. Ekpo praised the NMDPRA and Decade of Gas Secretariat for their work. “Let’s unlock gas and unlock Nigeria’s potential,” he urged.  With a solid plan and production targets aligned, Nigeria is set to lead West Africa’s gas revolution, reshaping the region’s energy future over the next 10 years.