ALDG recently participated in the Gas Market Maturity Workshop held on 24th September, 2026, in Abuja under the Decade of Gas initiative, where the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced a two-year window that ends on 24 September 2028 as its target period and date to review Nigeria’s domestic gas market to determine if it can transition fully to a Willing Buyer, Willing Seller (WBWS) framework.
NMDPRA Chief Executive Rabiu Umar said the Authority is targeting 24 months to establish and monitor the conditions needed for a fully functioning WBWS market. He said the transition will be supported by measurable market-maturity indicators, including supply, participation, infrastructure access, contract performance, payment reliability, and credible market information.
This aligns with the Decade of Gas ambition to increase gas supply to 12.6 Bcf/d by 2030, supported by 16 major infrastructure projects, alongside more than 60 identified demand projects representing over 15 Bcf/d of potential demand.
ALDG welcomes the move towards a more commercially driven gas market and calls for a phased transition anchored on clear, measurable milestones that would have been achieved by the market segments and hubs to be transitioned into WBWS, noting that the various segments and hubs are at different stages of maturity.
In general, stakeholders are aligned that:
- The transition should be supported by clear milestones with clear visibility on the specific conditions and targets that will determine progress towards a fully functioning WBWS market.
- Financing must help move gas to market. Greater use of funding vehicles such as the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) can help accelerate viable infrastructure projects while supporting the development of new demand.
- Gas-to-power requires deeper commercial reform. Making the segment more bankable is critical to strengthening returns across the gas value chain and giving producers and distributors greater confidence to invest.
- More gas distribution capacity is also needed.
ALDG welcomes the announcement that qualified companies are expected to receive gas distribution licences in Q4 2026, expanding the capacity to deliver gas to new markets and demand centres.
ALDG looks forward to working with NMDPRA and industry stakeholders to build a commercially viable and investment-ready gas market.