Juliet Ezeh
Nigeria is stepping up efforts to position itself as a dominant gas hub in Africa, leveraging major cross-border pipeline projects and rising production capacity to strengthen its influence in the regional energy market.
At a ministerial roundtable held in Abuja, Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Ed Ubong, revealed that the country is targeting an ambitious production level of 12 billion cubic feet of gas per day by 2030.
The plan, he explained, is not only aimed at meeting domestic energy needs but also at supplying gas to regional and international markets through strategic infrastructure.
Central to this vision are large-scale projects such as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline and the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, which are expected to connect Nigeria’s vast gas reserves to multiple markets across Africa and Europe.
Ubong noted that gas production has already shown steady growth, increasing from 6.8 billion cubic feet per day in 2023 to 7.5 billion cubic feet in 2025, reflecting improved coordination across the energy sector.
He stressed that regional collaboration would be critical to achieving this goal, particularly in aligning supply networks, infrastructure development, and market demand across African countries.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Aliyu Mohammed, said Nigeria is working to establish structured frameworks for cross-border gas trade.
According to him, the development of interconnected pipeline systems capable of bidirectional flow will enhance energy security and flexibility across the region.
He added that Nigeria’s coastal liquefied natural gas infrastructure along the Gulf of Guinea will further strengthen its export capacity, enabling the country to tap into growing global demand for cleaner energy sources.
With over 200 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, Nigeria holds one of the largest gas deposits in Africa, yet much of it remains underutilised.
Experts say the current push to integrate regional markets and expand export corridors could transform the country into a key energy supplier, while also boosting foreign exchange earnings and industrial growth.
However, stakeholders caution that achieving this ambition will require sustained investment, regulatory alignment across borders, and strong political will to execute complex multinational projects.
