Nigeria gas output rise accelerates as production grows to 7.5 bcf/d, with officials targeting 12 bcf/d by 2030 through reforms and investment

Nigeria’s Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Mr Ed Ubong, on Monday in Abuja revealed that the country’s gas production has increased significantly, reflecting a steady recovery driven by policy reforms and improved collaboration across the energy sector.

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Ed Ubong disclosed that production rose from 6.8 billion cubic feet per day in 2023 to 7.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2025, describing the development as a positive outcome of coordinated efforts among government institutions, regulators, investors and industry stakeholders.

Speaking at the Decade of Gas and World Bank Ministerial Roundtable and workshop, Ubong projected that output could reach 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030 if current momentum is sustained.

He noted that achieving this ambitious target would depend on continued partnerships across borders and within the energy value chain.

Ubong emphasised that the Decade of Gas initiative, which spans 2021 to 2030, was designed to unlock Nigeria’s vast gas reserves and reposition the sector as a major driver of economic growth.

He explained that a dedicated secretariat established in 2023 has been coordinating implementation efforts, with a focus on expanding infrastructure, stimulating demand, ensuring competitive pricing and strengthening human capacity.

According to him, more than 215 gas demand projects are currently being tracked through a centralised database, a move aimed at improving planning, accountability and execution across the sector.

He added that the initiative is increasingly asking critical questions about how to unlock value and move projects forward efficiently.

Ubong highlighted gas-to-power as a key pillar of Nigeria’s energy transition strategy, noting that it remains central to improving electricity supply across the country.

He also pointed to liquefied petroleum gas adoption as a cleaner alternative to traditional fuels, with plans to increase LPG consumption from 1.8 million tonnes per annum to 3 million tonnes by 2030.

He stated that the Federal Government intends to support this transition by distributing over five million gas cylinders nationwide, an initiative aimed at improving access and encouraging wider household adoption.

At the same event, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Aliyu Mohammed, stressed the importance of deepening regional cooperation to fully unlock Africa’s gas potential.

He explained that the first phase of the Decade of Gas initiative focused on identifying key enablers, while the next phase would prioritise execution and measurable outcomes.

Aliyu Mohammed noted that increased production, expanded pipeline networks, rising investment inflows and the commissioning of new processing facilities would define the success of the second half of the initiative.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s strategic export ambitions through major corridors such as the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline, the Trans Sahara Gas Pipeline and coastal LNG infrastructure along the Gulf of Guinea.

Ubong further identified about 16 priority pipeline projects requiring an estimated 22 billion dollars in funding, stressing the need for robust public private partnerships and support from development partners including the World Bank.

Nigeria, which holds over 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, continues to face infrastructure and demand challenges that have limited full exploitation of the resource.

However, officials say ongoing reforms and increased investor confidence are gradually unlocking opportunities within the sector.

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Analysts believe sustained investment, regulatory stability and regional collaboration will be critical to translating Nigeria’s growing gas output into tangible economic gains, particularly in power generation, industrial development and export markets.