Nigeria intends to accelerate the development of its gas industry to increase its production to 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2030, compared to 7,5 billion currently. This ambition, supported by investments in infrastructure and reforms aimed at improving the business climate, seeks to meet the growing demand from local industries, power plants, and export markets.
As a first step in this ramp-up, Nigerian gas production has already increased compared to 2023, when it stood at approximately 6,8 billion cubic feet per day. According to the Nigerian Minister of State for Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, who spoke on 2 October, the country's proven reserves have also increased, rising from 208 830 to 215 190 billion cubic feet.
The target of 2030 should enable Africa's leading oil producer to better leverage its gas resources and strengthen supply to strategic sectors of its economy. Requirements notably concern electricity generation, manufacturing, fertilizers, petrochemicals, liquefied natural gas (GNL), transport, and exports.
Beyond the increase in production, Nigeria is focusing on the development of its transport network to deliver more gas to domestic consumers. According to data provided by the authorities, domestic supply has already exceeded 2 billion cubic feet per day, in a context where the government is seeking to reduce supply constraints weighing on power plants and industries.
The Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben pipeline (OB3), fully completed and in preparation for its first deliveries, constitutes one of the main levers of this strategy. With a transport capacity of 2 billion cubic feet per day, it is expected to add more than 500 million standard cubic feet per day to the supply destined for the domestic market.
Simultaneously, the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline shows a completion rate of approximately 95%, according to the Minister of State for Gas. These infrastructures are intended to help improve gas distribution and support economic activity in several regions of the country.
The government also intends to mobilize more capital to develop midstream and downstream infrastructure in the sector. Thus, 671 billion naira, or approximately 434 million dollars, have been deployed through the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund.
This funding is reported to have attracted nearly 1 600 billion naira in private investment across 31 projects and 205 infrastructure assets. Once fully operational, these projects are expected to provide approximately 475 million standard cubic feet of additional gas per day to the domestic market.
30 billion dollars of investment sought by 2030
To support this transformation, Nigeria is targeting approximately 30 billion dollars of investment in the gas sector by 2030. Realizing this goal will depend notably on the country's ability to attract financing, complete ongoing infrastructure, and guarantee a steady supply to the various consumers.
The challenge goes beyond just increasing production volumes. By increasing gas availability, authorities hope to support electricity production, improve the competitiveness of companies, and promote the development of industrial sectors with higher value-added, notably fertilizers and petrochemicals.
For Abuja, gas thus appears as a central lever of the energy and industrial strategy, both to meet the needs of the national market and to increase the country's export capacities.
Published on 03/10/26 11:11
Narcisse Angan