New Gas Infrastructure Centre’ll Enable Transparency, Investment Surge – Ekpo

The federal government has inaugurated a Steering Committee and Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) to drive the establishment of the National Gas Infrastructure Command Centre (NGCC), a centralised digital platform aimed at strengthening transparency, coordination and operational efficiency across Nigeria’s gas value chain.

Backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and enabled by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the initiative will provide real-time oversight of Nigeria’s national gas infrastructure. It is positioned as a strategic reform to unlock greater value from Nigeria’s vast gas reserves, in the nation’s quest to meet the Presidential directive to grow natural gas production to 12Bscfd by 2030, as well as regulatory visibility and investor confidence.

The NGCC will be established under a private-sector-led Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, under the regulatory supervision of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), with no financial exposure to the federal government, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), stated on Thursday.

The ministry noted that Engineering Automation Technology Ltd. (EATL), an indigenous firm and project promoter, will handle system design and funding mobilisation, in partnership with its Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the command centre as a critical enabler of Nigeria’s gas-to-power ambitions and broader industrialisation agenda under the Decade of Gas Initiative.

He said the Steering Committee will provide strategic direction, ensure policy alignment and strengthen inter-agency collaboration, while guiding phased implementation. The Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG), he added, will develop the technical framework for the centre, including system architecture, data standards, operational protocols and risk mitigation measures required for an integrated national command system.

‎“The NGCC is a national asset that requires unified effort and a focus on outcomes that benefit all Nigerians. Government expects clear deliverables, actionable recommendations and consistent progress reporting,” he said.

‎Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of EATL, the project promoter, Dr Emmanuel Okon, described the initiative as a strategic national platform for real-time monitoring, operational coordination, emergency response and optimisation of Nigeria’s natural gas infrastructure network.

‎He said the NGCC would enable real-time monitoring and coordination across the entire gas infrastructure network, covering all operators to enhance safety, efficiency and system reliability. The platform, he added, will drive optimisation and transparency across pipelines, processing facilities and commercial gas flows to improve utilisation.

‎Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Patience Oyekunle, described the NGCC as a critical national asset that will strengthen automation and coordination across the country’s gas infrastructure.

‎She noted that, beyond improving infrastructure management, the project is expected to create employment opportunities for Nigerians and support broader industry development.

‎Also speaking, Director General of the ICRC, Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, underscored the strategic importance of the NGCC, describing it as both a transformative governance instrument for the gas sector and a national security asset. He assured stakeholders that the commission would ensure strict adherence to all regulatory standards and due process in the execution of the project.

‎In his remarks, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy for the NNPC Ltd,  Olalekan Ogunleye, expressed the readiness of the state-owned energy company to collaborate with investors, such as EATL, to realise the Federal Government’s objectives for the gas sector.

‎The Steering Committee for the NGCC comprises the minister of state Petroleum Resources (Gas) as chairman, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as Alternate Chair, and members from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), and the project promoter, Engineering Automation Technology Limited (EATL).

‎ The Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) includes representatives from EATL as Technical and Funding Lead, the Department of Gas and Legal Department of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Office of the Minister of State (Gas), NMDPRA, NNPC Ltd., Gas Aggregator Company Nigeria Ltd./Gas Transmission and Expansion (GACN), and the Decade of Gas Secretariat.