Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria has intensified its global investment drive in the gas sector, courting major Chinese energy firms as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Decade of Gas agenda, with fresh infrastructure milestones and multi-billion-dollar investment targets unveiled.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, disclosed that he held high-level meetings in China with top officials of China Gas and PCCS, aimed at unlocking strategic partnerships and attracting new investments into Nigeria’s gas value chain.
Ekpo who tweeted this on his official X handle, said the Federal Government is prioritising partnerships with global energy companies that combine strong technical expertise with financial capacity to drive large-scale gas development in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is deliberately focusing on credible global partners with the technical depth and financial strength to unlock our vast gas resources and deliver sustainable economic growth,” Ekpo said.
He revealed significant progress on Nigeria’s flagship gas infrastructure projects, describing them as critical national arteries designed to connect industrial and commercial hubs across the country.
“The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano, AKK Gas Pipeline is now over 90 per cent completed, while the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben, OB3, pipeline has reached 96 per cent completion,” the minister stated.
On upstream gas development, Ekpo said Nigeria has already secured over $8 billion in gas investment commitments, noting that Final Investment Decisions, FIDs, have been taken on the HI, Ubeta and Iseni gas field development projects.
He further disclosed that Nigeria’s 2025 Licensing Round will make 50 new acreages available to investors, with a target of attracting about $10 billion in fresh investments.
Ekpo also highlighted progress under the Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, GFCP, noting that permits have been issued to 28 companies to capture approximately 250 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, representing over $2 billion in associated investments.
“These investments will convert waste into wealth while significantly reducing emissions,” he said.
Urging China Gas and PCCS to take advantage of the emerging opportunities, the minister reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for investors.
“Nigeria is open for business and ready to welcome investors who are serious about innovation, growth and long-term prosperity in our gas sector,” Ekpo added.
