Nigeria’s gas reserves increase to 215.29trn cubic feet 

The Decade of Gas, in collaboration with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas CNG and Electric Vehicles (PI-CNG & EV) made this known on Thursday in Kano at a media parlay.

The average gas production rose from 6.86 to approximately 7.5 billion cubic feet per day (BCF/D), with domestic gas supply exceeding two (BCF/D).

Mr Taofeek Balogun, the Workstream Lead for Infrastructure and Demand at the Decade of Gas, stated this while highlighting significant achievements recorded under Tinubu and the leadership of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo.

Balogun said 3.5 billion dollars was committed on investments across four major gas projects.

According to him, the OB3 Gas Pipeline is about 100 per cent completed, while the AKK Gas Pipeline is approximately 95 per cent completed.

He said about ₦671 billion had so far been spent on funding of infrastructure, thereby, attracting ₦1.6 trillion in private investment.

On cleaner cooking gas, Balogun said the LPG programme was targeting five million households by 2030, with the inauguration of the programme in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom.

He also said that Nigeria was targeting September, 2028 to transit to a Willing Buyer, Willing Seller (WBWS) gas market framework, aimed at strengthening market competitiveness, transparency and commercial sustainability.

The Chief Operating  Officer. of. PICNG & EV, Mr Tosin. Coker, while making a presentation on CNG and autogas, highlighted the role of natural gas in reducing transportation costs, improving energy security and supporting Nigeria’s transition to cleaner mobility.

He also addressed public concerns about CNG safety, emphasising the importance of certified conversion centres, approved equipment, regulatory compliance and proper vehicle maintenance.

On public transportation, he disclosed that 670 CNG buses had so far been deployed nationwide, including 285 buses operating commercially across 13 states, while 302 buses have been allocated to transport unions, students and government agencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that under the National Affordable CNG Transition Programme (NACTP), CNG bus routes had recorded fare reductions of between 15 and 50 per cent.

He further said that plans were being made for 127 additional CNG refuelling stations across 31 states, including the FCT as part of efforts to expand accessibility and accelerate nationwide adoption.

According to him, Kano State was identified as a strategic hub for clean mobility development in Northern Nigeria.

“It is currently leading the North West with seven operational CNG refuelling stations, while 17 additional stations are under various stages of completion,” he said

Speaking on behalf of participating journalists, Mr Murtala Adewale, commended the Decade of Gas Secretariat and PI-CNG & EV for organising the programme. .

He described the engagement as highly educative, informative and beneficial to media practitioners.

Adewale called for more frequent capacity-building sessions, increased participation of journalists in subsequent engagements and stronger collaboration with relevant industry stakeholders and regulatory agencies.

According to him, it will go a long way in in assisting to deepen media understanding and promote accurate reportage on developments within Nigeria’s gas sector. (