President Bola Tinubu commissioned four major compressed natural gas facilities on Friday via virtual link. The infrastructure projects span Lagos, Abuja, and Owerri in a coordinated rollout.
Speaking at the event, Tinubu expressed his conviction that Nigeria's energy transition must rest on domestic gas. He rejected any reliance on imported alternatives for the country's future.
Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga released a statement capturing the President's remarks at the commissioning. According to him, Tinubu said: "Nigeria is a gas nation, and our energy future will not be borrowed."
The President noted that Lagos drives the nation's economy and benefits when it fuels itself with local gas. He stressed that this represents the true face of gas reform moving from theory to reality.
"Abuja is receiving one of West Africa's most advanced CNG facilities through today's commission," Tinubu noted. His words underscored the tangible progress being achieved across Nigeria's energy sector.
Students shouldn't shoulder the heaviest burden of ongoing reforms, the President argued. He cited the SPROUT programme as the government's deliberate response to ease mobility costs on university campuses.
Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), described the day's commissioning as a decisive action. He said it operationalises Nigeria's Decade of Gas agenda and demonstrates federal commitment to domestic gas.
Nigeria possesses over 210 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, Ekpo reminded stakeholders. Proper management of this resource can power industries, homes, vehicles and lift millions from poverty, he added.
Minister Ekpo praised the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund for execution speed and discipline. He promised the Ministry would maintain an enabling regulatory and fiscal environment for gas investment.
Oluwole Adams, Executive Director of MDGIF, credited today's projects to unified effort among government actors. Regulators, investors and technical partners working together deliver real progress, he told attendees.
Adams thanked the President for incentives supporting gas investments in the country. He also acknowledged the National Assembly, the NMDPRA, and joint venture partners for delivering these projects.
All four facilities were developed under the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund framework. They represent the government's accelerated response to subsidy reform and deliberate expansion of domestic gas use.
These projects directly address transport costs across the nation, officials say. They form part of Nigeria's broader transition toward cleaner fuels and sustainable energy systems.
