Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, Saidu A. Mohammed, has called for stronger regional collaboration to unlock Africa’s gas potential and mobilise over $22 billion in infrastructure investment.
Speaking at the Decade of Gas Ministerial Roundtable on Regional Gas Development, organised in partnership with the World Bank, Mohammed said Nigeria is shifting focus from policy design to large-scale execution and cross-border expansion.
“The first half of the Decade of Gas Initiative has focused on identifying key enablers required to unlock Nigeria’s gas potential,” he said.
According to him, these enablers include “strengthening supply, stimulating demand, expanding infrastructure, and establishing appropriate pricing frameworks to support the country’s gas-based economic growth.”
He noted that the next phase will be driven by measurable outcomes.
“The initiative’s second half would hinge on execution, measured by increased gas production, greater investment inflows, expanded pipeline networks, and the commissioning of new gas processing facilities,” Mohammed stated.
Highlighting Nigeria’s regional ambitions, he outlined three major gas export corridors expected to reshape Africa’s energy landscape.
“These include the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline, the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, and coastal LNG supply infrastructure along the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.
Mohammed stressed that achieving these goals would require coordinated policy alignment across African countries.
“To achieve these ambitions, there is a need for harmonized regulatory frameworks across countries, structured mechanisms for cross-border gas exports, credible regional demand data, and sustained funding,” he said.
He also underscored the importance of strengthening demand through power infrastructure.
“We must ensure firm gas supply agreements and expanded gas-to-power infrastructure across the continent,” he added.
Reaffirming the regulator’s role, Mohammed said the Authority would continue to provide policy support to attract investments.
“The NMDPRA will continue to provide regulatory support, particularly in areas of pricing, tariff frameworks, and other policy enablers,” he said.
He further called on the World Bank and development partners to play a critical role in bridging Nigeria’s infrastructure gap.
“We urge the World Bank to support efforts to mobilise the estimated $22 billion required to bridge Nigeria’s gas infrastructure gap,” Mohammed stated.
The push for regional gas integration could position Nigeria as a dominant supplier in Africa’s evolving energy market while unlocking new revenue streams and boosting energy security.
