Nigeria’s gas production is steadily increasing, moving from 7.5 billion cubic feet (bcf) per day towards a target of 12 bcf per day, according to the Federal Government. This announcement was made by Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), during a recent press event in Lagos.
Ekpo emphasized that his primary goal during his second year in office is to boost gas output and transform Nigeria into a gas-driven economy, aligning with the government’s Decade of Gas initiative. “By 2030, we aim to transition Nigeria into a full-fledged gas economy, and we’re making significant strides in that direction. Our goal is to increase production from 7.5 bcf to 12 bcf, ensuring gas sufficiency for the country,” he said.
Since the Federal Government designated gas as the nation’s transitional fuel, questions have arisen about the sustainability of Nigeria’s gas production. However, Ekpo expressed confidence in the country’s ability to scale up production, especially as international oil companies (IOCs) shift operations to deeper waters where vast gas reserves lie.
“The sustainability of our gas production relies on tapping into these deep-water reserves,” Ekpo explained. “With President Bola Tinubu’s commitment, we are confident that Nigeria will have sufficient gas resources to meet our goals.”
Nigeria boasts 209.26 trillion cubic feet of both associated and non-associated gas reserves, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, positioning the country as a major player in the global gas market.
Despite these positive developments, many Nigerians are feeling the pinch of rising cooking gas prices, which have jumped to approximately N1,300 per kilogramme, up from less than N1,000 in June.
