Precious Anga
Lagos — Nigeria must move beyond being a gas-rich nation to becoming a gas-powered economy capable of driving industrial growth, creating jobs and improving living standards, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has said.
Speaking at the Association of Local Distributors of Gas (ALDG) Business Forum 2026 in Abuja, Ekpo urged investors and industry stakeholders to accelerate investments that will expand domestic gas utilisation and unlock the country’s economic potential.
Represented by the Director of Midstream and Downstream at the ministry, Mrs Ikenma Irene, the minister noted that Nigeria’s more than 209 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves remain largely underutilised despite ranking among the largest in the world.
According to him, the country’s success will not be measured by the size of its reserves but by its ability to convert those resources into industrial output, energy security, employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth.
“Nigeria’s development will not be measured by the volume of gas beneath our soil, but by the extent to which that gas powers industries, supports households, creates jobs and fuels economic growth,” he said.
Ekpo described the forum, themed From Gas Abundance to Gas Access: Reassessing Nigeria’s Gas Distribution Imperatives, as timely, noting that it aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to deepen domestic gas consumption under the Decade of Gas initiative.
He said the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has strengthened the regulatory framework needed to attract investment, encourage private sector participation and accelerate infrastructure development across the gas value chain.
The minister stressed that Nigeria must focus on delivering gas to industries, businesses and households rather than merely celebrating its resource endowment.
He identified infrastructure expansion, policy consistency, investment inflows, security and stronger collaboration among stakeholders as critical to achieving that objective.
Ekpo further challenged industry players to develop practical and investment-driven solutions that will broaden gas access, support industrialisation and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.
He maintained that the country’s vast gas reserves can become a catalyst for economic transformation if backed by sustained investment, efficient infrastructure and effective implementation of ongoing sector reforms.
