On March 30–31, 2026, the Association of Local Distributors of Gas (ALDG) participated in a high-level ministerial roundtable and workshop convened by the Decade of Gas Secretariat in collaboration with the World Bank.
The ALDG delegation, led by Executive Secretary John Kadiri, joined key stakeholders across government and industry, including Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas); Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC); Engr. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Ed Ubong, Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Secretariat.
The workshop focused on advancing coordinated action to unlock Nigeria’s gas potential and strengthen its role in driving economic growth and energy security.
Key Takeaways
- Demand is rising- Gas demand is on a strong upward trajectory, requiring a corresponding scale-up in supply to avoid structural shortages and missed growth opportunities.
- Clarity on supply opportunities- Unlocking supply potential requires greater clarity on where opportunities lie across Africa, supported by improved data and coordinated regional planning.
- Cost competitiveness is critical- Reducing production and delivery costs remains essential to ensure affordability for end users.
- Infrastructure constraints persist- There is a need to expand and better utilise transport networks, including non-pipeline solutions (e.g., virtual pipelines) to reach inland demand centres.
- Collaboration drives scale- Strong collaboration and transparency are required to develop bankable projects, harmonise frameworks and unlock financing at scale.
Recommendations
- Develop an integrated supply– demand outlook to identify gaps and sequence priorities
- Identify and develop regional production hubs to aggregate supply, drive economies of scale and lower unit costs
- Develop integrated pipeline infrastructure (cross-border and intra-country) to enable efficient gas distribution
- Mobilise private and institutional capital to scale viable opportunities and unlock early-stage investments.
- Develop regional standardised frameworks and templates to accelerate project development and approvals
- Set up regional collaboration and coordination mechanisms to align stakeholders and execution
A clear consensus emerged from the workshop: accelerating gas development is both necessary and achievable. The direction is well understood, and collaboration across government, regulators, and industry is already gaining momentum.
The ALDG Secretariat and its member companies remain committed to working closely with all stakeholders to increase gas production and deepen domestic utilisation. This is critical to ensuring Nigeria fully captures the current opportunity and avoids short-term reversals, such as the re-emergence of alternative fuels that could undermine long-term progress.
Nigeria’s gas future will be shaped by sustained execution, coordinated investment, and a shared commitment to delivering on the promise of the Decade of Gas.
