The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) and the Decade of Gas Secretariat, convened key stakeholders across Nigeria’s gas value chain for a high-level Gas Market Maturity Workshop at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Abuja.
The Workshop chaired by the Authority Chief Executive (ACE) of NMDPRA, Mallam Rabiu Umar, focused on the conditions required to deepen competition, strengthen commercial contracting and progressively transition Nigeria towards a more market-driven Willing Buyer, Willing Seller (WBWS) gas market in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). The workshop was designed to validate the gas market maturity framework, assess Nigeria’s current position and agree priority actions, sequencing and responsibilities for the transition.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Ed Ubong, Coordinating Director, Decade of Gas, expressed confidence that Nigeria could achieve a fully functioning WBWS market before 2030. He identified supply, infrastructure, demand, gas-to-power and LPG as critical to market maturity, noting a gas supply ambition of 12.6 Bcf/d by 2030 and 16 key infrastructure projects, with the OB3 pipeline already completed. Other projects highlighted included the AKK pipeline, Escravos – Odidi connection and the connection of offshore Seplat fields to QIT in Eket.
On demand, the Coordinating Director said more than 60 projects, representing approximately 15 Bcf/d of potential demand by 2030, had been identified. He noted that the ACE’s chairmanship was particularly significant given NMDPRA’s central role in addressing the pricing and economic principles that cut across supply, demand, infrastructure, power and LPG.
Delivering his address, Mallam Rabiu Umar said Nigeria should target a 24-month pathway to a more competitive and commercially driven WBWS gas market, effectively setting September 24th, 2028 as the transition target. He tasked industry stakeholders with developing clear and measurable markers and delivering on commitments required to grow Nigeria’s gas production and consumption, while ensuring gas remains affordable for Nigerians and supporting the Federal Government’s investment reforms and the broader ambition of building a gas-powered economy.
The ACE said market readiness would be assessed through indicators including the availability and diversity of gas supply, the quality of buyers and sellers, access to infrastructure, reliability of contracts and payments, market information and credible price signals. He also disclosed that NMDPRA was nearing completion of its gas distribution network/gridding exercise, with plans to issue Gas Distribution Licences to qualified companies in the fourth quarter of 2026, alongside efforts to deepen domestic utilisation of LPG and LNG and reduce import dependence.
In her goodwill message, Engr. Mrs. Yetunde Taiwo, President of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), described the transition to a WBWS market as a long-standing priority of the Association. She noted that Nigeria’s gas industry had made significant progress over the past 10 years, but stressed that the transition must be guided by clear and measurable milestones, supported by collaboration among government, regulators and industry to attract investment, expand participation and deliver reliable gas to industries, businesses and consumers.
A panel session on the PIA context and vision for a WBWS market brought together Mr. Gbite Adeniji, Managing Partner, ENR Advisory; Mr. James Odiase, Study Group Coordinating Chair, NGA; and Dr. Tim Okon, Managing Partner, TENO Energy Resources, with Engr. Nathaniel Oyatogun, CEO, Aspen Energy, as moderator. Discussions examined the policy, regulatory and commercial conditions required to support the transition to a mature gas market.
The workshop participants identified additional initiatives and practical levers required to progress towards the 24th September 2028 Willing Buyer Willing Seller transition date while advancing Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a competitive and sustainable gas-powered economy by 2030.
