By Abdullahi Jalalludeen
The Decade of Gas Secretariat, in collaboration with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), has highlighted developments in Nigeria’s gas sector, including increased gas reserves, pipeline projects and the expansion of compressed natural gas infrastructure.
The achievements were presented at a media engagement and capacity-building session organised for journalists in Kano on Thursday.
The session brought together 27 journalists from television, radio, print and digital media to deepen their understanding of the Federal Government’s gas development agenda and promote accurate reporting on the sector.
Speaking on the progress of the gas industry, the Workstream Lead for Infrastructure and Demand at the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Mr Taofeek Balogun, said Nigeria’s proven gas reserves increased from 208.83 trillion cubic feet in 2023 to 215.19 trillion cubic feet as of January 2026.
Balogun said average gas production had also increased from 6.86 billion cubic feet per day to approximately 7.5 billion cubic feet per day, while domestic gas supply exceeded two billion cubic feet per day.
He disclosed that about 3.5 billion dollars in investments had been committed to four major gas projects, adding that the OB3 Gas Pipeline had been completed, while the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline was approximately 95 per cent complete.
The official also highlighted government initiatives aimed at expanding access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), with a target of reaching five million households by 2030, alongside programmes to promote cleaner cooking and increase domestic gas utilisation.
In his presentation, the Chief Operating Officer of Pi-CNG & EV, Mr Tosin Coker, said compressed natural gas could reduce transportation costs, strengthen energy security and support Nigeria’s transition to cleaner mobility.
Coker addressed concerns about CNG safety, stressing the need for certified conversion centres, approved equipment, compliance with regulations and proper vehicle maintenance.
He said 670 CNG-powered buses had been deployed nationwide, including 285 operating commercially across 13 states, while 302 buses had been allocated to transport unions, students and government agencies.
The initiative also disclosed that additional buses and tricycles were on order, while participating routes under the National Affordable CNG Transition Programme had recorded fare reductions of between 15 and 50 per cent.
It further revealed plans to establish 127 additional CNG refuelling stations across 31 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, to improve accessibility and accelerate adoption.
Kano was identified as a strategic centre for clean mobility in Northern Nigeria, with seven operational CNG refuelling stations in the North-West leading the state’s current regional deployment, while 17 additional stations were at various stages of completion.
The initiative also said it had deployed 25 additional buses to complement earlier commercial deployments in Kano, noting that the expansion could create opportunities for affordable transportation, investment and industrial development along the northern gas corridor.
During an interactive session, journalists sought clarification on gas accessibility, affordability, safety, infrastructure development and the implementation of government policies.
Speaking on behalf of the participating journalists, Mr Murtala Adewale of The Guardian commended the organisers for the engagement, describing it as educative, informative and beneficial to media practitioners.
He called for more frequent capacity-building sessions, wider participation by journalists and stronger collaboration with industry stakeholders and regulatory agencies to improve public understanding of developments in the gas sector.
The Decade of Gas Secretariat and Pi-CNG & EV reaffirmed their commitment to sustained media engagement, stakeholder collaboration and public enlightenment as Nigeria pursues its gas-powered economy agenda.
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