The Association of Local Distributors of Gas (ALDG) has called for urgent, coordinated action to accelerate gas accessibility across Nigeria, urging policymakers, regulators, investors, and industry operators to shift focus from mere discussions of the country’s vast reserves to concrete solutions that will drive widespread domestic utilisation.
This appeal was made at the second edition of the ALDG Business Forum, held at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Building in Abuja. Themed “From Gas Abundance to Gas Access: Reassessing Nigeria’s Gas Distribution Imperatives,” the Forum brought together senior government officials, regulators, development finance institutions, investors, technology providers, and industry stakeholders to chart a path toward unlocking Nigeria’s gas potential.
Despite boasting approximately 215 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of proven gas reserves—the largest in Africa—Nigeria continues to face limited domestic utilisation, inadequate distribution infrastructure, and persistent energy access challenges. Participants agreed that bridging the gap between abundance and accessibility requires deliberate investments, enabling policies, and stronger collaboration across the value chain.
Key recommendations from the Forum included:
- Policy Consistency & Regulatory Certainty: Long-term frameworks to encourage sustained private sector investment.
- Infrastructure Development: Accelerated rollout of pipelines, storage facilities, and efficient downstream distribution systems to deliver gas to industries, businesses, and households.
- Financing Support: Greater involvement of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in providing affordable, long-term, naira-denominated financing to de-risk projects and catalyse private capital.
- Strategic Partnerships: Establishment of gas aggregation hubs and scalable distribution models to expand access and improve market efficiency.
Speaking at the Forum, ALDG Chairman Kehinde Alabi stressed the urgency of execution:
“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.”
Representing the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Irene Ikenma, Director of Midstream and Downstream Gas, echoed the call for certainty:
“The commercial fundamentals for gas distribution in Nigeria are compelling, but investment will only flow at the scale we need when we have regulatory certainty and infrastructure that can underpin long-term returns.”
Hon. Aluko Ahmed Yinka, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Gas, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to reforms that accelerate gas access:
“We are not here merely as observers—we are here as partners in reform. The House Committee on Gas will continue to champion legislative and oversight mechanisms that remove barriers, attract investment, and hold all actors accountable.”
The Forum’s deliberations followed recent government interventions to address Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) hoarding and diversion. The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources convened an emergency stakeholders’ engagement—including the DSS, EFCC, and Nigeria Police Force—while the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced coordinated measures to stabilise supply, affordability, and market confidence.
