PNC 2025: Ministers rally Stakeholders on gas expansion, oil production

The Federal Government has renewed its aggressive push for energy sufficiency, with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources declaring a unified front to secure investments and scale production across both oil and gas sectors at the 14th Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum.

Setting the tone for the gas sector, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Ph.D., reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to using gas as the nation's transition fuel and bridge to a cleaner energy future.

He outlined a massive infrastructure drive designed to link Nigeria’s vast reserves to regional and global markets, specifically highlighting the AKK and OB3 pipelines, the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) expansion, and the ambitious Trans-Saharan and Atlantic gas routes.

Ekpo emphasized that the "Decade of Gas" initiative is already yielding tangible gains in the adoption of CNG, LPG, and clean cooking solutions, alongside a significant expansion in LNG capacity.

He noted that new upstream incentives and flare commercialization programs are set to boost supply, fueling a gas-driven industrial revolution anchored on fertilizer, methanol, and petrochemical production within dedicated gas-based parks.

He commended President Tinubu’s leadership and the NCDMB, led by Engr. Felix Ogbe, for positioning local content as a national imperative necessary for a resilient energy future.

Complementing the Gas Minister’s addresss, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), H.E. Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, delivered a firm address identifying the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as the "defining turning point" that has restored policy clarity and investor confidence.

Lokpobiri stressed that the improved regulatory stability under the Tinubu administration has effectively signaled Nigeria's readiness for business across the upstream, midstream, and downstream value chains.

Senator Lokpobiri underscored the urgency of ramping up crude oil production to capitalize on shifting global narratives around energy transition.

While noting the emergence of significant new investments, he warned that unlocking sustainable energy financing remains "Africa’s biggest barrier to progress."

He called on the industry to leverage the PNC platform to strategically attract critical capital, ensuring that Nigeria not only remains competitive but anchors its energy future on robust domestic capacity.

Both Ministers agreed that for Nigeria to build a competitive energy future, seamless collaboration between the government, industry players, and host communities is non-negotiable.