Nigeria LNG Limited’s Managing Director, Adeleye Falade, has used a high-profile meeting with President Bola Tinubu to press for a streamlined tax and regulatory framework, warning that overlapping levies and charges are driving up costs and threatening future investment in the gas sector.
The appeal came as Falade briefed the President on the advanced state of the Train 7 expansion project, now more than 90 per cent complete, which is set to significantly boost Nigeria’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity and export earnings.
Speaking at the State House, Falade told Tinubu that multiple and sometimes conflicting fiscal demands from different tiers and agencies of government create uncertainty for operators and can act as a barrier to both current operations and new capital commitments.
He urged the President to intervene on ease-of-doing-business reforms that would reduce these frictions, arguing that a clearer, more predictable regime would help convert Nigeria’s vast gas reserves into jobs, industrial growth and long-term economic value.
Tinubu, who congratulated Falade on his appointment, described Train 7 as central to Nigeria’s national gas agenda and said its timely and safe completion would reinforce investor confidence, deepen local content and expand the country’s footprint in global energy markets.
“Train 7 is at the centre of our national gas agenda. Its success matters not only to NLNG, but to Nigeria’s economic future,” the President said, adding that the project is a benchmark for delivery, partnership and Nigerian Content.
He assured NLNG’s management that the Federal Government would continue to work on improving the business climate, providing greater regulatory clarity and removing bottlenecks to major oil and gas investments.
Falade, in response, said NLNG is fully committed to delivering the remaining work on Train 7 safely, efficiently and to the required quality, while preparing the plant for reliable, sustainable operations.
“Nigeria is open for business, but it must be business that creates value at home – building capacity, supporting communities, protecting the environment and contributing to national prosperity. NLNG must continue to lead by example,” he said.
Beyond Train 7, the discussions covered LPG pricing and accessibility, trucking challenges along the Bonny-Bodo Road corridor, NLNG’s contribution to public revenue, its investment in the Bonny-Bodo Road and national social-impact projects, and the need for a more enabling business environment.
On domestic LPG, Falade restated NLNG’s commitment to supporting the local market and improving access to cleaner cooking fuel for households and businesses. He called for coordinated action by government, regulators and industry to expand supply, improve storage and distribution infrastructure, eliminate avoidable costs and create a more transparent, efficient market.
“Improving LPG accessibility is important to Nigeria’s energy transition and to the wellbeing of millions of Nigerian households. NLNG remains committed to supporting the domestic market, but improving affordability requires coordinated action across the entire LPG value chain,” he said.
The meeting closed with both sides agreeing to sustain momentum on Train 7 as it enters its final phase and to strengthen the partnership between the Federal Government and NLNG to support the project’s successful delivery and the company’s broader contribution to Nigeria’s gas-led economic growth.