NMDPRA Seek World Bank’s Backing On $22bn Africa-wide Gas Collaboration

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) is calling on the World Bank to support a $22 billion push for gas infrastructure that spans Africa, as emphasised by its chief executive, Saidu Mohammed.

Speaking at the Decade of Gas Ministerial Roundtable on Regional Gas Development—organised in partnership with the World Bank—Mohammed highlighted strategic corridors like the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline and Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline to extend Nigeria’s gas ambitions continent-wide, according to a post on the NMDPRA X handle on Monday.

Speaking on the theme “Strategic Areas of Collaboration in Advancing Gas Development with Regional Impact Across Africa,” the NMDPRA boss noted that the first half of the Decade of Gas Initiative has focused on identifying key enablers required to unlock Nigeria’s gas potential. These include

strengthening supply, stimulating demand, expanding infrastructure, and establishing appropriate pricing frameworks to support the country’s gas-based economic growth.

He stated that the initiative’s second half would hinge on execution, measured by increased gas production, greater investment inflows, expanded pipeline networks, and the commissioning of new gas processing facilities. With the domestic framework for gas now in place, he added, the focus must shift to extending the initiative’s impact beyond Nigeria to the wider African region..

The ACE highlighted three strategic corridors through which Nigeria could supply gas to regional and international markets. These include the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline linking the northern Atlantic coast of Africa with potential delivery to Europe; the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline extending the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline across parts of West, Central and North Africa; and coastal LNG supply infrastructure along the Gulf of Guinea and other African coastal regions.

To achieve these ambitions, he stressed the need for harmonized regulatory frameworks across countries, structured mechanisms for cross-border gas exports, credible regional demand data, and sustained funding for key infrastructure projects. He also underscored the importance of firm gas supply agreements and expanded gas-to-power infrastructure across the continent.

Engr. Mohammed reaffirmed that the NMDPRA would continue to provide regulatory support to enable gas infrastructure investments, particularly in areas of pricing, tariff frameworks, and other policy enablers.