Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has disclosed that the Federal Government is ramping up efforts to transform the country’s vast natural gas reserves into a powerful engine for industrial growth.

This is also as the minister stated the government is further intensifying calls for greater domestic utilisation of the country’s estimated 209 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of proven gas resources.

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Mr Ekpo said presently the country’s priority must now shift from celebrating the size of its gas reserves to creating pathways that deliver gas directly to industries, power plants, businesses and households.

Speaking as special guest during the 2026 Business Forum of the Association of Local Distributors of Gas in Abuja, Ekpo noted that Nigeria possesses one of the largest gas reserves globally, yet millions of citizens and businesses still struggle with inadequate access to reliable energy.

According to him, unlocking the full value of the nation’s gas resources will require sustained investment in infrastructure, stronger market development and deliberate policies that encourage local consumption.

He stressed that natural gas remains critical to Nigeria’s economic aspirations, particularly as the country seeks to expand manufacturing, boost electricity generation and create new industrial opportunities.