General
Nigeria to Deepen Gas Utilisation With Five New Mini Plants
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria will deepen domestic gas utilisation with the launch of five mini-Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plants in Ajaokuta, Kogi State.
This is in line with the federal government’s Gas Revolution Agenda, according to a statement by Mr Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
The groundbreaking ceremony held yesterday signalled the commencement of construction works on the five Mini-LNG plants namely: NNPC Prime LNG, NGML/Gasnexus LNG, BUA LNG, Highland LNG and LNG Arete.
NNPC Ltd stake in three of the five mini-LNG plants were put at (90 per cent in Prime LNG, 50 per cent in NGML/Gasnexus LNG and 10 per cent in BUA LNG), while Highland LNG and LNG Arete are developed by other private companies.
The plants were said to have a combined capacity of 97 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscf/d).
“This unprecedented partnership between NNPC Ltd and private investors represent a strategic leap towards energy sufficiency, off-grid industrial support and carbon emission reduction in the country,” the statement said.
Speaking at the ceremony, the chief executive of NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, reaffirmed the company’s unwavering commitment to Federal Government’s gas-to-power aspirations, noting that natural gas holds the key to unlocking a bright and prosperous future for Nigeria, and a catalyst for industrialization, job creation, and economic diversification.
He said the projects play a critical role in increasing access to energy for millions of Nigerians, providing job opportunities, promoting economic growth and contributing to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while creating opportunities for gas commercialisation and supporting the Federal Government’s flare down initiatives.
“These Mini LNG facilities will ensure the efficient transportation of gas over long distances, providing a cleaner and cheaper source of energy to households, mobility, industries, and businesses. This is particularly important for regions that currently lack access to gas pipeline infrastructure.” Mr Kyari added.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, who described the development as an unprecedented feat in the history of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, said natural gas remained a veritable vehicle for accelerating Nigeria’s industrialization, economic growth and prosperity.
Mr Ekpo assured NNPC and its partners of the federal government’s support, stressed that the initiatives align with Government’s aspirations of harnessing Nigeria’s abundant gas resources for National economic development, reducing the Nation’s carbon footprint and enhancing the well-being of Nigerians.
In his remarks, Kogi State Governor, Mr Usman Ododo, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for locating the five Mini-LNG plants in the state, describing it as a step forward in Nigeria’s march towards attaining energy security.
He said the plants will unlock ample opportunities in investment, including direct and indirect employment for the state’s teeming population.
He assured of the state government’s support for the project through manpower supply, provision of adequate security and host community collaboration at the projects’ various sites from commencement to completion.
Also speaking, Chairman of the NNPC board, Mr Pius Akinyelure, said the milestone marks a significant advancement in Nigeria’s energy sector.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, has expressed his frustration towards the partial progress in Nigeria’s flagship Decade of Gas Initiative, advocating that it must now be aggressively accelerated.
Launched by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021, the scheme is a national policy drive declaring 2021–2030 as the country’s “Decade of Gas.” with the goal of transforming Nigeria from an oil-dependent economy into a gas-powered industrial nation, using its vast natural gas reserves (one of the largest in Africa) for economic growth.
However, speaking recently at the 14th Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum in Yenagoa, Mr Ekpo said the policy has delivered some gains in LPG penetration, CNG rollout, and gas commercialisation, but “not at the scale Nigeria urgently requires.”
“We have made progress, but not enough,” the minister admitted. “The pace has been slower than expected, and we must move with far greater urgency.”
He cited persistent infrastructure gaps, gas supply volatility, funding constraints, and delayed policy execution as major setbacks.
“Critical pipelines are behind schedule. Feedstock shortages still hamper power and industries,” he said. “These challenges have limited the full realisation of the Decade of Gas vision.”
The minister, however, outlined a renewed push to accelerate delivery through tighter regulatory coordination and investment incentives.
“We are strengthening inter-agency alignment to remove approval bottlenecks,” Ekpo said. “The PIA gives us the fiscal tools to unlock more capital into midstream and domestic gas programmes.”
He noted measurable progress in domestic LPG consumption, clean cooking expansion, and flare gas commercialisation, calling them “strong foundations that must now be scaled up.”
“Our goal remains clear: affordable gas for power, households, industries and transport,” he said. “We are not abandoning the Decade of Gas; we are intensifying it.”
Mr Ekpo said the government will prioritise early delivery of key projects such as OB3, AKK, NLNG Train 7, Brass Fertiliser, and several gas-based industrial hubs.
“These projects will determine whether the Decade of Gas becomes a transformative legacy or a missed opportunity,” he warned.
The minister urged industry players, financiers and host communities to recommit to the national gas agenda.
“We need every stakeholder on board,” he said. “Nigeria cannot afford to slow down at a time when global markets are shifting and opportunities are emerging.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Electricity supply was restored to residents of some parts of Lagos on Wednesday morning following a blackout spurred by a jumper cut that occurred in the Powerline area of Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA) late on Monday.
The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) had announced a power outage in parts of its franchise, affecting the Ogba, Ikeja, and Alausa axis of Lagos on Tuesday.
In a message to customers, the DisCo said the power outage was due to a jumper cut at the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s (TCN) injection substation (ISS).
A jumper cut is an electrical fault that occurs when a jumper cable is damaged, disconnected, or intentionally severed.
The DisCo said the TCN’s technical team was already working to resolve the issue.
“Dear Customer, the current power outage is due to a 132kV jumper cut at the TCN Injection Substation (ISS),” the message read.
“The TCN technical team is already working to clear the fault to ensure supply is restored as soon as possible.”
Mr Kingsley Okotie, spokesperson of Ikeja DisCo, had also clarified that the power outage did not affect the entire franchise area of the company.
“It doesn’t totally affect the whole of our franchise. The message was sent to only customers in areas affected,” he said.
“We are still working to resolve the issues; that’s where we are at the moment.”
Our correspondent, who witnessed the development, reported that the jumper cut occurred around 11 pm on Monday, December 8, when a large spark occurred at the structure, leading to an immediate seizure of power supply. There was yet another minimal spark, but power was restored afterwards, likely from a back up source.
By Dipo Olowookere
The Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, has left the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mr Fubara, who was restored as Governor of the oil-rich state in September 2025, announced his defection to the APC at a stakeholders meeting at the government house in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
In March 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on Rivers State, suspending Mr Fubara and lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months due to political unrest in the South-South state.
It was gathered that on Monday night, the governor visited Mr Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja for a meeting.
His defection from the PDP comes a few days after 16 members of the Rivers Assembly formally joined the APC due to crisis in the PDP.
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