The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has unveiled a comprehensive regulatory roadmap designed to unlock over 55 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of uncommitted gas reserves and attract billions of dollars in new investments into the nation’s gas value chain.
This is part of roadmap, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification and energy transition priorities, announced at the 3rd Gas Investment Forum held in Lagos recently.
The road outlines key policy and regulatory measures targeted at driving gas development, monetisation, and infrastructure expansion across the country.
Speaking at the forum, the commission’s chief executive, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, represented by the Executive Commissioner for Development and Production, Mr Enorense Amadasu, said the initiative is pivotal to securing Nigeria’s long-term energy security and global competitiveness.
“Nigeria’s proven gas reserves currently stand at 210.54 trillion cubic feet, comprising 109.51 TCF of Non-Associated Gas and 101.03 TCF of Associated Gas,” Mr Amadasu stated.
“Of this, about 55 TCF, representing 26 percent, remains uncommitted to existing or planned monetisation projects. This presents a massive investment opportunity for both domestic and international investors.”
According to him, since the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021, the Commission has approved over 25 Non-Associated Gas, NAG, Field Development Plans, unlocking nearly 9,790 billion standard cubic feet, BSCF, of reserves and attracting over $4.9 billion in capital expenditure, CAPEX.
He further disclosed that the country’s annual average daily gas production in 2024 stood at 6.99 billion standard cubic feet per day, BSCF/D, with a Reserves Replacement Ratio of 1.56 and a Reserves Life Index of 92.7 years, an indication, he said, of the sector’s long-term sustainability.
“The national gas reserves have grown steadily from 208.83 TCF in 2023 to 210.54 TCF in 2025, while production rose from 6.91 BSCF/D to 7.61 BSCF/D,” he added.
“These figures demonstrate resilience and steady progress across the gas value chain.”
Providing further insight into gas utilisation patterns, Mr Amadasu explained that the domestic market currently accounts for about 28 percent of total gas consumption, while exports via LNG and the West African Gas Pipeline, WAGP, take up 35 per cent. Field use, including gas lift and reinjection, represents about 29 per cent.
He noted that NUPRC’s regulatory milestones have been instrumental in shaping the nation’s gas landscape, citing policies such as the Associated Gas Re-injection Act (1979), National Gas Policy (2008), Flare Gas (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Regulations (2018), and the Decade of Gas Initiative.
“The PIA 2021, alongside recent instruments like the Domestic Gas Delivery Obligation Regulations (2022), Gas Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions Regulations (2023), and the Oil and Gas Companies (Tax Incentives) Order (2024), underscores our commitment to a transparent, pro-investment framework,” he said.
Mr Amadasu further revealed that the Commission is actively facilitating regulatory approvals and negotiations for gas supply to major national projects such as the NLNG Train 7, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Pipeline, and the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Project.
He also disclosed that the Commission is currently monitoring 19 active gas development projects, 10 production facilities and 9 pipeline projects, with a combined capacity of 3.55 BSCF/D.
About 88 per cent of these projects are in the engineering phase, while 12 percent have moved to construction or fabrication.
“Eighty-six per cent of the new gas projects are designed for the export market, particularly to feed the Nigerian LNG, while about 23 percent, equivalent to 142 million standard cubic feet per day, MMSCFD,, will serve the domestic market,” he noted.