Nigeria Attracts N1.6 Trillion in Private Investment Following N671 Billion Public Gas Infrastructure Funding

Nigeria's gas sector is witnessing a significant surge in investment, with approximately N1.6 trillion in private funding following the government's allocation of N671 billion for gas infrastructure development. This development underscores the sector's potential to attract capital, foster industrial growth, and enhance access to cleaner energy sources.

Taofeek Balogun, the workstream lead for infrastructure and demand at the Decade of Gas Secretariat, shared these insights during a media capacity-building session held in Kano. The event was organized in collaboration with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PI-CNG & EV). Balogun highlighted that Nigeria has secured $3.5 billion in committed investments across four major gas projects, with the OB3 Gas Pipeline already completed and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline nearing completion at 95%.

The country's proven gas reserves have also seen an increase, rising from 208.83 trillion cubic feet in 2023 to 215.19 trillion cubic feet as of January 2026. Additionally, average gas production has grown from 6.86 billion cubic feet per day to approximately 7.5 billion cubic feet per day, with domestic gas supply exceeding two billion cubic feet per day.

The Nigerian government is actively pursuing the expansion of natural gas utilization across various sectors, including power generation, industrial production, household cooking, and transportation. Balogun pointed out the government's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) initiative, which aims to reach five million households by 2030. This program has already launched in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states, distributing 27,000 LPG cylinders and conducting regional sensitization campaigns.

In terms of transportation, Tosin Coker, the chief operating officer of PI-CNG & EV, emphasized the benefits of compressed natural gas (CNG) in reducing fuel costs, enhancing energy security, and promoting cleaner mobility. Currently, 670 CNG buses have been deployed across Nigeria, with 285 operating commercially in 13 states and 302 allocated to transport unions, students, and government agencies. Recently, 25 additional CNG buses were introduced in Kano to bolster commercial operations, with plans for hundreds more on order.

Under the National Affordable CNG Transition Programme, participating bus routes have reported fare reductions ranging from 15% to 50%. To facilitate wider adoption of CNG, plans are underway to establish 127 additional refueling stations across 31 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Kano has been identified as a key hub for CNG development in Northern Nigeria, currently hosting seven operational refueling stations, with 17 more in various stages of completion.

Coker also addressed safety concerns related to CNG, stressing the importance of certified vehicle conversion centers, approved equipment, regulatory compliance, and proper vehicle maintenance to ensure safe operations.

The media engagement session brought together around 27 journalists from various platforms, aiming to enhance their understanding of Nigeria's gas development agenda and raise public awareness about opportunities in the sector. Edu V. Antai, who leads technology and media engagement at the Decade of Gas Secretariat, noted that this was the first formal engagement with journalists in Kano, following similar initiatives in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.

During an interactive segment, journalists raised questions regarding gas accessibility, affordability, safety, infrastructure development, and the implementation of government policies. Murtala Adewale from The Guardian commended the organizers for the opportunity to deepen knowledge about the gas industry and called for more frequent capacity-building sessions, broader participation from journalists, and stronger collaboration with industry stakeholders and regulatory agencies to ensure accurate reporting.

The Decade of Gas Secretariat and PI-CNG & EV reiterated their commitment to ongoing media engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and public education as Nigeria advances its gas development agenda.