Nigeria’s natural gas production has risen from about 6.8 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) in 2023 to 7.5 bcf/d in 2025, reflecting a deliberate push to make gas a central pillar of the country’s energy and economic transformation. Speaking at the Decade of Gas and World Bank Ministerial Roundtable and workshop in Abuja, the Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Ed Ubong, said the growth stems from tighter collaboration among government institutions, regulators, investors, and industry players.
Ubong disclosed that Nigeria has reaffirmed its ambition to scale up gas output to 12 bcf/d in the market by 2030, underscoring the importance of partnerships across African countries, development partners, and private investors. The event brought together ministers from across the continent, World Bank representatives, regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Chairman of PiCNG, and more than 60 project sponsors.
The roundtable is designed to fast‑track funding and implementation of gas projects, with sessions on Africa’s gas landscape, including presentations from consulting firm McKinsey, and workshops on how the World Bank and sponsors can jointly advance infrastructure. Thematic discussions will focus on efficient gas transportation, regional connectivity, and strategies to meet rising energy demand, especially as Nigeria positions itself as a catalyst for a West African gas ecosystem.
Tracing the drive behind the current push, Ubong recalled that the Federal Government declared 2021–2030 the “Decade of Gas,” pivoting the nation toward gas as a key driver of industrialisation and electricity access. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Gas for Nigeria’s Prosperity” agenda and the ministerial focus on the gas value chain, he said, have further strengthened the momentum. A dedicated Secretariat, set up in 2023, now coordinates efforts to unlock reserves, stimulate demand, expand infrastructure, ensure competitive pricing, and build technical capacity.
Ubong singled out gas‑to‑power and increased domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) use as priority areas. Gas‑to‑power is meant to improve electricity supply, while expanding LPG usage aims to replace firewood and charcoal, enhancing public health and cutting indoor air pollution. Around 215 gas demand projects are now tracked in the NMDPRA’s central database, improving planning and execution, and robust accountability mechanisms help monitor progress and identify bottlenecks.
Several major gas projects have already secured Final Investment Decisions (FIDs), with more investments expected, signaling sustained momentum in the sector. For regional integration, Ubong stressed the need for aligned supply strategies, demand forecasts, and transboundary pipelines, including projects like the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline capable of bidirectional flow. Nigeria has identified 16 critical pipeline projects needing about 22 billion dollars, to be financed through strong public‑private partnerships.
Environmentally, efforts are underway to reduce gas flaring in line with global standards, even as production rises. The power sector remains central, requiring close coordination among the Ministries of Power and Finance and industry operators. On the domestic front, Nigeria aims to increase LPG consumption from 1.8 million tonnes per year to 3 million by 2030, to be supported by the distribution of over five million cylinders nationwide.
Though substantial progress has been made in the last three years, Ubong said sustained collaboration and joint action across borders, institutions, and value chains will be key to achieving Nigeria’s gas ambitions and advancing Africa’s broader energy security and prosperity agenda.