The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has urged investors to exploit the huge natural gas reserve of Nigeria to boost industrialization and development.
At the ALDG Business Forum 2026 held in Abuja, Ekpo indicated that Nigeria must do more than possess natural gas to ensure that it is put into productive use both for industry and domestic consumption.
Delivering his speech via his Director, Midstream and Downstream, Mrs. Ikenma Irene, the minister said while Nigeria had proven reserves of over 209 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the real work begins with ensuring access, distribution, and utilization.
According to him, the nation will only know its success through its ability to utilize its natural gas to power industries and create wealth and employment.
Ekpo stressed that the government is working on increasing the use of gas via the Decade of Gas strategy and various reforms in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021 to help attract investment and improve the industry.
He called for stakeholders to think about solutions that will help build a sustainable economy based on investment, rather than just policies.
The Nigerian government needs to take decisive action to make the country’s gas assets bring real benefits by establishing an appropriate framework for energy access, industrial activity, and effective market operations.
“This is the time to transform gas abundance into gas access and translate policy into implementation,” he said.
