– Unveils pipeline milestones, policy reforms
Mkpoikana Udoma
Abuja — Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has reaffirmed that natural gas remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial and economic transformation strategy, describing the “Decade of Gas” initiative as a full-scale national development policy, not just a slogan.
Speaking at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas, NOG Energy Week 2025 in Abuja, the Minister outlined a sweeping gas-led roadmap anchored on investment mobilization, infrastructure expansion, and regional integration.
He declared that Nigeria’s abundant gas reserves, now over 200 trillion cubic feet, must be fully harnessed to drive energy access, manufacturing, power generation, and exports.
“Gas is cleaner, it is abundant in Nigeria, and adaptable for power generation and transportation. It enables both decarbonization and development. Our Decade of Gas initiative is not just a slogan. It is a national development strategy backed by quality policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, and strategic collaborations.”
Ekpo also disclosed that the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano, AKK pipeline has reached a critical milestone, advancing Nigeria’s plan to industrialize the north and deepen internal gas distribution.
⁸“The AKK pipeline has made a major leap in our drive to industrialize northern Nigeria,” he said, thanking the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited for the progress achieved.
He also confirmed progress on the OB3 Gas Pipeline, which is central to connecting Nigeria’s eastern and western gas infrastructure, and announced that the Nigeria–Equatorial Guinea Gas Pipeline project is advancing, a strategic bilateral collaboration aimed at monetizing stranded gas and boosting exports.
“This is part of our five-line gas diplomacy, which is already bearing fruit. We are committed to long-standing projects like the West African Gas Pipeline and the Transatlantic Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, spanning over 5,000 kilometers and aimed at enhancing regional energy integration and access to European markets,” he added.m,
Highlighting the legal and fiscal refokrms catalyzing growth, Ekpo said the Petroleum Industry Act, PIAñ bhñhas enhanced investor confidence and offers a more competitive framework, especially in the gas and deepwater sectors.
“The full implementation of the PIA has provided regulatory clarity. It gives investors a transparent legal framework they can rely on,” the Minister noted.
He added that the activation of the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund has unlocked capital for modular gas plants, pipeline expansion, and national gas grid development.
“We are aligning investment incentives to project aggregation. The Fund now provides a dedicated vehicle for capital mobilization, and it’s working,” Ekpo said.
Minister Ekpo also highlighted the government’s commitment to strengthening local content, citing partnerships with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB to promote local manufacturing and engineering capacity in the gas value chain.
“We are ensuring that Nigerian companies are not just participants, but leaders in our energy ecosystem,” he said.
“Nigeria’s transition must be just, equitable, and inclusive. It must address energy poverty and economic inclusion. That is why gas remains our energy transition to wealth.”
Ekpo urged all stakeholders to convert policies into action, stressing that trust from investors, communities, and citizens must be sustained.
“Let us remain anchored on a shared vision: a Nigeria where every woman has access to clean cooking gas, where gas powers industries and illuminates communities. We must transit from gas to prosperity and translate policies into implementation.”
He closed his remarks with a tribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, crediting his administration for the strong political will backing the gas revolution.
