Precious Anga
Lagos — The International Gas Union, IGU, has urged Nigeria to accelerate investment in natural gas and critical gas infrastructure, saying the country has the resources and potential to become Africa’s leading gas powerhouse.
The call was made by the President of the IGU, Andrea Stegher, while delivering the keynote address at the 4th Gas Investment Forum, held under the theme, “Positioning Nigeria as Africa’s Global Gas Powerhouse.”
Stegher said rising global energy demand, growing concerns over energy security and the need for affordable, lower-carbon energy solutions make continued investment in natural gas infrastructure essential.
“Your country’s resources have the potential to turn Nigeria into the Gas-driven powerhouse of Africa,” he told delegates, stressing that the time to invest is now.
According to him, Nigeria demonstrates what can be achieved when government and industry work together to develop natural resources, strengthen infrastructure and respond to changing energy and market dynamics.
Nigeria’s gas industry already supplies a growing domestic market and has an established presence in international LNG markets. However, Stegher said further investment would be critical to expanding the sector’s contribution to both the Nigerian economy and global energy supply.
He also called for greater policy certainty and stronger collaboration between government and industry, warning that policies that create additional uncertainty could discourage investment in gas supply and the infrastructure needed to support the sector.
The IGU President said the case for gas investment is further strengthened by rising demand from emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and data centres, which are increasing the need for dependable energy supplies.
Stegher also highlighted technological developments across the gas industry, including digitalisation, artificial intelligence, emissions-reduction technologies, biomethane, hydrogen, e-methane and carbon capture, utilisation and storage.
He said these emerging technologies would complement natural gas rather than immediately replace it, as the global energy system continues to balance reliability, affordability and emissions reduction.
“Gas is and will remain secure, dependable, cost-effective and, most importantly, essential in any future energy scenario,” Stegher said.
For Nigeria, the IGU’s position reinforces the importance of unlocking greater investment across the gas value chain, particularly as the country seeks to deepen domestic gas utilisation and strengthen its position in international energy markets.
