The Association of Local Distributors of Gas (ALDG) has called for accelerated investment in gas infrastructure and stronger policy implementation to expand access to natural gas across Nigeria, warning that the country risks underutilising one of its most abundant energy resources despite possessing vast reserves.
Speaking at an industry forum, Chairman of ALDG, Kehinde Alabi, urged policymakers, regulators, investors and operators across the gas value chain to move beyond discussions about Nigeria’s gas potential and focus on practical measures that will drive domestic utilisation and improve energy access.
According to him, Nigeria has the resources, policy frameworks and growing investor interest required to build a thriving gas economy, but sustained execution remains critical to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
“Nigeria cannot afford to remain a footnote in its own gas story. We have the reserves, we have the policy frameworks, and increasingly we have the investor appetite. What we need now is ruthless execution from the wellhead to the household,” Alabi said.
He noted that local gas distributors are prepared to play a greater role in bridging supply gaps and expanding access to cleaner energy for households, industries and businesses, stressing that collaboration among stakeholders will be essential to achieving the objectives of the government’s gas development agenda.
The call comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to leverage its vast natural gas reserves to drive economic growth, enhance energy security and support industrialisation. Despite being one of Africa’s largest holders of proven gas reserves, domestic gas penetration remains constrained by inadequate infrastructure, funding challenges and regulatory bottlenecks.
Also speaking at the forum, Director of Midstream and Downstream Gas at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Irene Ikenma, said attracting large-scale investment into gas distribution would depend on creating a stable regulatory environment and expanding critical infrastructure.
Representing the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, Ikenma stated that while the economics of gas distribution remain attractive, investors require greater certainty before committing long-term capital.
“The commercial fundamentals for gas distribution in Nigeria are compelling, but the investment will only flow at the scale we need when we have regulatory certainty and infrastructure that can underpin long-term returns,” she said.
She emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between government agencies and private sector operators to accelerate gas infrastructure development and improve distribution networks nationwide.
Industry stakeholders at the forum noted that expanding domestic gas utilisation remains central to Nigeria’s energy transition strategy, with natural gas expected to serve as a bridge fuel in the country’s shift toward cleaner energy sources.
They argued that increased investment in pipelines, processing facilities, storage infrastructure and distribution networks would not only improve energy access but also support job creation, industrial development and economic diversification.
The stakeholders further stressed that sustained engagement between regulators and operators would be necessary to address implementation challenges and unlock the significant opportunities within Nigeria’s gas sector.
