Nigeria is ramping up efforts to position itself as a leading regional and global gas supply hub as the federal government intensifies its drive to attract large-scale investment into the energy sector under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, made this known on Thursday at the High-Level Nigeria Infrastructure Investment Forum in London, where he outlined the government’s strategy to deploy gas as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and energy security.

According to a statement by his spokesman, Mr Louis Ibah, the minister said Nigeria is pursuing a bold and clearly defined vision for its gas sector, anchored on unlocking value across the entire value chain—from upstream development and processing infrastructure to pipelines, domestic utilisation, and export expansion.

“At the heart of this vision is our Decade of Gas initiative,” Ekpo said, “which prioritises critical investments needed to transform gas into a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic development and energy transition.”

He highlighted a suite of major regional infrastructure projects designed to unlock new investment opportunities and deepen Nigeria’s footprint in international energy markets.

These include the West African Gas Pipeline, which supplies gas to neighbouring countries; the Gulf of Guinea Gas Pipeline Project, aimed at boosting regional gas monetisation and LNG collaboration; and the proposed Trans-Saharan and Trans-Atlantic Gas Pipelines, both targeted at connecting Nigeria’s vast gas reserves to European markets.

Ekpo stressed that infrastructure development remains central to Nigeria’s broader economic agenda, spanning energy, transportation, digital connectivity, and manufacturing—key sectors critical to enhancing productivity and global competitiveness.

He described natural gas as a strategic transition fuel in Nigeria’s development trajectory, noting its potential to expand access to reliable energy while reducing emissions compared to more carbon-intensive alternatives.

The minister also underscored the importance of strong partnerships in achieving the country’s infrastructure ambitions, calling for deeper collaboration among governments, financial institutions, private investors, and technology providers.

He added that the United Kingdom continues to play a vital role as a strategic partner in project financing, technology transfer, and institutional investment. (Daily Sun)