Nigeria Targets Global Gas Hub Status, As Ekpo Unveils Tinubu’s Strategy In London

Nigeria is positioning itself as a regional and global gas supply hub as it intensifies efforts to attract large-scale investment into its energy sector under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has said.

Ekpo disclosed this on Thursday while speaking at the High-level Nigeria Infrastructure Investment Forum in London, where he outlined the federal government’s strategy to leverage gas as a driver of economic transformation, job creation, and energy security.

The minister spokesman, Louis Ibah, on Friday, quoted him as saying: “Nigeria is advancing a clear vision for the gas sector, one that positions gas as a catalyst for economic transformation, job creation, and energy security.

“Through our national Decade of Gas initiative, we are prioritising investments across the entire gas value chain — from upstream gas development and processing infrastructure to pipelines, domestic utilisation, and export capacity.”

The minister informed the audience that Nigeria is advancing major regional gas infrastructure projects aimed at unlocking investment opportunities and strengthening export capacity to international markets.

He listed the following as strategic regional gas infrastructure projects presenting significant opportunities for prospective investors: the West African Gas Pipeline, which supplies Nigerian gas to neighbouring West African countries; the Gulf of Guinea Gas Pipeline Project, aimed at strengthening regional gas monetisation and LNG processing cooperation; as well as the proposed Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and Trans-Atlantic Gas Pipeline, both designed to connect Nigeria’s vast gas reserves to European markets.

‎Ekpo added that infrastructure development remains central to Nigeria’s economic agenda, spanning energy, transportation, digital connectivity, and manufacturing, all aimed at boosting productivity and strengthening global competitiveness.

He said natural gas occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s development plans, describing it as a transition fuel capable of expanding reliable energy access while reducing emissions compared with more carbon-intensive sources.

‎He noted that achieving Nigeria’s infrastructure ambitions will require strong collaboration among governments, financial institutions, private investors, and technology providers, adding that the United Kingdom remains a key partner in project finance, technology, and institutional investment.