Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, says that Nigeria is committed to expanding its gas markets and accelerating infrastructure deployment.
Addressing stakeholders from across the oil and gas value chain at the 14th Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta on Tuesday, Mr. Ekpo said that Nigeria was holding talks with the Government of Libya to explore new interconnections that can strengthen Africa’s gas connectivity and expand Nigeria’s access to regional and global gas markets.
He listed some major Nigerian gas projects as the AKK and OB3 pipelines, the Trans-Saharan and Trans-Atlantic gas initiatives, the ongoing expansion of the West African Gas Pipeline and the Nigerian–Equatorial Guinea Gas Pipeline Project.
Speaking on domestic gas utilization projects, Ekpo stated that the Decade of Gas Initiative continues to drive increased adoption of Compressed Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas expansion, clean cooking distribution gas and the growth of both small- and large-scale LNG, all of which, are critical to addressing energy poverty and boosting local enterprises.
He disclosed that Nigeria is prioritising upstream incentives, gas flare-commercialisation programmes and fast-tracked gas development to ensure reliable supply for power generation, manufacturing hubs and petrochemical growth.
According to the minister, gas remains pivotal to expanding industrialisation through fertiliser, methanol and petrochemical projects, alongside gas-based industrial parks supported by private-sector partnerships.
The minister underscored that gas is Nigeria’s transition fuel, stressing that national gas policies are geared toward emissions reduction and positioning the country as a leader in Africa’s clean-energy pathway.
Ekpo reaffirmed that local content is now a national imperative, not just a policy and commended the various programmes of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), led by its Executive Secretary, Dr. Felix Ogbe, for its consistent dedication to deepening local participation and coordinating strategic engagements across the sector, including industrial parks, human capacity initiatives, and support for local manufacturing, for strengthening indigenous capability and keeping value within the economy.
He said that Nigerian companies should be at the centre of the expanding energy mix and gas value chain.
Reiterating the centrality of investment to sectoral growth, the minister assured stakeholders that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources would continue collaborating with the NCDMB, NUPRC, NMDPRA, NNPCL and private operators to eliminate bottlenecks, shorten transaction timelines and foster an environment that encourages long-term capital inflow.
Ekpo called for unity of purpose across government, industry, academia, policymakers and host communities, stressing that Nigeria’s energy future depends on collaboration and shared commitment.
He commended the NCDMB for sustaining the PNC platform and pledged the ministry’s continued support for initiatives that strengthen Nigeria’s resilience, inclusiveness and global competitiveness in the gas and energy industries.
The 14th Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum has “Securing Investments, Strengthening Local Content and Scaling Energy Production” as its theme.
GIK/APA