Nigeria gas production growth gains pace as output rises to 7.5bcf, with government targeting 12bcf by 2030 through reforms and investment

Nigeria’s push to reposition natural gas as the backbone of its energy transition is gathering pace, with production rising from 6.8 billion cubic feet per day in 2023 to 7.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2025.

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The Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Ed Ubong, disclosed the figures on Monday at the Decade of Gas and World Bank Ministerial Roundtable in Abuja, projecting that output could reach 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030 if current reforms and investments are sustained.

Ubong attributed the Nigeria gas production growth to improved collaboration across government institutions, regulators, investors, and industry operators.

“This progress is largely driven by stronger collaboration across the energy value chain,” he said.

He noted that achieving the 2030 target would depend heavily on sustained partnerships and cross-border cooperation.

“Africa’s energy future depends on our ability to work together across borders, institutions, and value chains to achieve shared prosperity,” Ubong added.

The Decade of Gas initiative, launched to run from 2021 to 2030, aims to unlock Nigeria’s vast gas reserves and reposition the sector as a key driver of economic growth.

A dedicated secretariat, established in 2023, is coordinating efforts to stimulate demand, expand infrastructure, ensure competitive pricing, and build human capacity.

As part of the strategy, more than 215 gas demand projects are being tracked through a centralised database to improve planning and execution, alongside strengthened accountability mechanisms to ensure delivery.

Key priorities include gas-to-power projects to improve electricity supply and the expansion of liquefied petroleum gas usage to replace firewood and charcoal.

Nigeria plans to increase LPG consumption from 1.8 million tonnes per annum to 3 million tonnes by 2030, supported by the distribution of over five million gas cylinders nationwide.

Ubong also disclosed that several upstream operators have taken Final Investment Decisions on major gas projects, signalling rising investor confidence.

However, he noted that 16 priority pipeline projects requiring about $22bn in funding remain critical to sustaining momentum.

The Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Aliyu Mohammed, emphasised the need for deeper regional collaboration and stronger regulatory alignment to unlock Africa’s gas potential.

He identified key export corridors, including the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, and coastal LNG infrastructure along the Gulf of Guinea, as central to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a regional gas hub.

Despite holding over 200 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, Nigeria continues to face infrastructure constraints and pricing challenges.

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Analysts say sustained investment, policy consistency, and effective partnerships will be decisive in translating the country’s gas ambitions into tangible economic gains.