FG READY TO PARTNER IN BUILDING INTEGRATED AFRICAN GAS MARKET -EKPO
The Federal Government has declared its readiness to collaborate with African countries in building a fully integrated continental gas market, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has said.
Ekpo made this known on Monday, at the Ministerial Roundtable and Workshop on regional gas development and cooperation, organised by the Decade of Gas Initiative, in partnership with the World Bank in Abuja.
He noted that Africa’s energy future would not be determined by the abundance of its natural resources, but by the ability of countries to work together, stressing that despite holding over 600 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity.
According to him, the challenge facing the continent is not resource availability, but coordination, infrastructure, and collective action, adding that natural gas presents Africa with a unique opportunity to drive industrialisation, expand energy access, and strengthen economic resilience.
Ekpo emphasised that no single country can unlock Africa’s gas potential alone, insisting that regional cooperation must serve as the cornerstone of the continent’s energy strategy.
“Nigeria stands ready to collaborate, invest, and lead where necessary, but most importantly, to partner in building a truly integrated African gas market.
“If we align our vision, coordinate our actions, and commit to shared progress, Africa can move from being a continent of stranded gas resources to one of integrated energy prosperity”, he said.
He highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing efforts under its Decade of Gas policy, noting that with over 210 trillion cubic feet of reserves, the country is positioning itself as a regional hub through strategic cross-border projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, Nigeria–Equatorial Guinea Gas Pipeline, and the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline, also known as the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline.
Similarly, the Authority Chief Executive (ACE), Engr. Saidu Mohammed, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to strengthening regional gas collaboration in alignment with the Decade of Gas initiative.
He noted that the Authority is focused on driving policies and infrastructure frameworks that will support cross-border gas development, enhance market integration, and unlock value across the continent.
On her part, the Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, stated that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) will continue to foster a transparent, efficient, and investment-friendly regulatory environment, explaining that the Commission is implementing reforms aimed at accelerating gas commercialisation, encouraging upstream investments, and supporting the development of critical infrastructure required to monetise Nigeria’s vast gas resources.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Mr. Ed Ubong, explained that the initiative, launched in 2021, is designed to transform Nigeria into a gas-powered economy by 2030.
He added that the workshop provides a strategic platform to identify and deepen opportunities for regional collaboration, particularly across West Africa and Equatorial Guinea, in a way that supports shared growth and energy access.
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