Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo has called on global energy investors to collaborate with Nigeria in building a resilient and competitive gas sector in a bid to unlock the country’s abundant natural gas reserves, which currently stand at 210.54 trillion cubic feet (Tcf)) as of January 1, 2025, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The Minister stated this at the opening ceremony of Gastech 2025 in Milan, Italy, while addressing global energy leaders on Nigeria’s existing investment opportunities enabled by attractive initiatives and reforms currently available for potential investors to thrive, leading to the latest entry of big players like Vaalco and Petrobras in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our administration is creating the right policies and reforms to attract both domestic and international investments.
“Nigeria is open for business. I call on global investors to collaborate with us in building a resilient and competitive gas sector that supports national development while meeting the world’s growing energy demand,” Ekpo stated
With the prevailing global shift to zero-emission energy sources from heavily carbonized fossil fuels, Hon. Ekpo stated that gas still remains a potential cleaner source of industrial and domestic fuel, and its abundant nature undoubtedly secures global energy sustainability and availability, in addition to its economic development.
“The industrialization of Nigeria cannot be achieved without unlocking the full potential of its gas sector. Gas is not only cleaner, but it is also a catalyst for job creation, rural development, power generation, and manufacturing growth. Gas is the bridge to our future, and Nigeria is ready to lead in shaping a sustainable energy landscape,” he added.
On the 2nd day of the ongoing Gastech Conference in Milan, Italy, NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Gas Power & New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, joined energy experts on the panel “Expediting the Next Wave of Export Projects to Mitigate the Global LNG Supply Crunch”.
In his submission, Mr. Ogunleye highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging gas for economic transformation, job creation, and industrial growth.
He said with pro-business regulators, aligned stakeholders, and government-backed incentives now in place, Nigeria offers one of the most competitive landscapes for energy investment.
“This is the best time for investors to get on board. NNPC Ltd is committed to forging strategic partnerships that will unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s gas resources for the benefit of our people and the global energy community,” Mr. Ogunleye declared.
Recently, Nigeria has achieved a rare energy milestone as gas flaring fell to 7.16% in July 2025, even as daily gas production rose to 7.59 billion standard cubic feet per day (BSCFD). The simultaneous growth in output and decline in flaring highlights the Commission’s commitment to boost production while advancing its goal of achieving zero flaring by 2030.
