In a significant development, the Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged to provide 5 billion cubic feet of gas per day to both domestic and export markets. This commitment was announced by the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, during the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Authority Committee of Ministers (COM) meeting in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
During his address at the meeting, Ekpo assured member countries, including Benin, Togo, and Ghana, of a consistent and reliable gas supply from Nigeria to meet their domestic energy needs. The pledge is in line with the Decade of Gas Initiative, which aims to develop and commercialize over 5 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of gas for both domestic usage and export markets.
Ekpo highlighted key initiatives driving Nigeria’s transition from an oil-based to a gas-based economy, including the Nigerian Gas Expansion Program (NGEP) and the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative. He emphasized that these efforts would ensure a continuous and reliable supply of gas to the West African Gas Pipeline through N-Gas Limited, the commercialization vehicle for Eastern gas.
To bolster the commitment to N-Gas Limited and other stakeholders in the value chain, Ekpo expressed support for the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC). The focus is on addressing challenges within the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS), with ongoing projects aimed at resolving pressure issues.
Projects initiated by NGIC include linking gas resources from the eastern region with demand regions in the west and north of Nigeria. Additionally, the installation of midline compressors is underway to comprehensively tackle pressure challenges in the ELPS system.
Ekpo emphasized the Nigerian government’s dedication to fostering unity in the West African sub-region and ensuring energy stability through the West African gas pipeline system. He underscored the nation’s current emphasis on gas as a primary fuel source, highlighting initiatives like the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) program and the Nigerian Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) designed to promote the transition from liquid fuels to gas in various sectors.
Notably, Ekpo recently convened a meeting involving NNPCL, NMDPRA, and Chevron to address the rising prices of cooking gas. Ahead of the Christmas holidays, he stressed the urgency of finding solutions to alleviate cost pressures, demonstrating the government’s commitment to ensuring energy affordability and preventing hardships for Nigerians.
