Gas
Nigeria reports gas reserve growth as infrastructure expands
Nigeria's proven natural gas reserves have climbed to over 215 trillion cubic feet as authorities detail ongoing progress in domestic supply and clean transportation.
Key points
- Proven natural gas reserves increased from 208.83 TCF in 2023 to between 215.19 TCF and 215.29 TCF by January 2026.
- Average gas production rose to roughly 7.5 billion cubic feet per day, with domestic supply exceeding 2 BCF/D.
- Major pipelines including OB3 and AKK approach completion alongside committed investments worth US$3.5 billion.
What happened
Nigeria's proven natural gas reserves have grown to 215.19 trillion cubic feet, according to disclosures from the Decade of Gas Secretariat. Speaking during a media briefing in Kano, infrastructure workstream lead Taofeek Balogun noted that reserves climbed from 208.83 trillion cubic feet recorded in 2023. Daily production averaged approximately 7.5 billion cubic feet, surpassing the previous level of 6.86 billion cubic feet, while domestic supply moved past 2 billion cubic feet daily.
Authorities attributed the sector updates to policy momentum under the current federal administration and the Ministry of State for Petroleum Resources. Officials highlighted 3.5 billion US dollars in committed capital directed toward four key gas ventures. Furthermore, public sector funding of 671 billion Naira has catalysed approximately 1.6 trillion Naira in private sector participation.
Infrastructure milestones include the full completion of the OB3 gas pipeline and the AKK pipeline reaching 95 percent completion. Officials also pointed to the September 2028 target for adopting a willing buyer, willing seller market structure to enhance competitiveness.
Transport and clean cooking
In parallel with upstream developments, the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles detailed advances in clean mobility. Chief Operating Officer Tosin Coker stated that 670 compressed natural gas buses have reached the country, with 285 units deployed commercially across 13 states. Transport unions and public institutions received an additional 302 vehicles.
Participation in the national transition programme helped reduce public transport fares by 15 to 50 percent on designated routes. Kano State emerged as a regional focal point in the north, operating seven refuelling stations with 17 more units under construction. Nationwide plans include 127 additional stations across 31 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Regarding domestic energy access, officials highlighted liquefied petroleum gas initiatives aimed at reaching five million households by the end of the decade, supported by initial distributions in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states.
Why it matters
Expanding domestic gas utilisation remains critical for an economy where fuel exports accounted for 85.9 percent of merchandise exports in 2025, according to World Bank figures. Enhancing domestic supply helps diversify industrial feedstock and power generation.
At the same time, shifting transport and household energy toward gas addresses severe deficits in clean energy access. World Bank data for 2024 shows that only 28 percent of the Nigerian population has access to clean cooking facilities, trailing far behind the global average of 75.4 percent. Scaling up liquefied petroleum gas and compressed natural gas infrastructure directly supports broader developmental and environmental goals for energy investors and policymakers.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
72.9% of electricity in Nigeria came from gas in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
