The Federal Government (FG) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s gas-to-power value chain as part of efforts to expand electricity supply, drive industrial growth and reduce energy poverty.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, stated this while delivering his address at the National Gas Day session of the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2026).

Ekpo said natural gas currently accounts for over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s on-grid electricity generation, describing it as the backbone of the country’s power sector and a critical enabler of economic development.

He stated: “With proven natural gas reserves of over 210 trillion cubic feet, Nigeria is uniquely positioned to leverage gas not just as a resource, but as a catalyst for power delivery, industrialisation and national growth”.

He noted that while Nigeria’s gas reserves are among the largest globally, the real measure of success lies in the ability to translate those resources into megawatts delivered to homes, industries, hospitals and schools.

Ekpo stated that the federal government has prioritised gas as a transition fuel to guarantee reliable electricity supply while supporting climate commitments.

He said, “As a cleaner and more affordable energy source, gas enables us to expand electricity access, deepen industrialisation and reduce energy poverty in a pragmatic and development-focused manner”. The minister disclosed that one of the major breakthroughs recorded under the current administration was the resolution of longstanding gas-to-power debts owed to gas producers, following presidential approval and ratification by the National Economic Council (NEC).

He explained that the settlement of the legacy debts has restored confidence in the domestic gas market and is already unlocking fresh investments in gas supply for power generation.

“For decades, unpaid gas-to-power obligations discouraged investment and constrained supply. Resolving this issue has removed a major bottleneck and laid the foundation for a more sustainable gas-to-power framework,” Ekpo said.