Ed Ubong, Coordinating Director, Association of Local Distributors of Gas (ALDG)
The Association of Local Distributors of Gas (ALDG) has urged the Federal Government and key stakeholders in the energy sector to move beyond discussions about Nigeria’s vast gas reserves and focus on practical measures that will expand access to gas across the country.
The call was made during the second edition of the ALDG Business Forum, held recently at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Building in Abuja, according to a statement issued by the association on Tuesday.
The forum, themed “From Gas Abundance to Gas Access: Reassessing Nigeria’s Gas Distribution Imperatives,” brought together government officials, regulators, development finance institutions, investors, technology providers, and industry operators to explore ways of unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s gas resources.
Despite possessing about 215 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of proven gas reserves—the largest in Africa—Nigeria continues to face challenges related to limited domestic gas utilisation, inadequate distribution infrastructure, and poor energy access.
Participants at the forum stressed the need for urgent and coordinated efforts to bridge the gap between gas availability and accessibility through targeted investments, supportive policies, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
They noted that policy consistency and regulatory certainty are essential for attracting long-term private sector investment into the gas industry.
Stakeholders also highlighted the need to fast-track the development of critical infrastructure, including pipeline networks, storage facilities, and efficient downstream distribution systems capable of delivering gas to industries, businesses, and households nationwide.
The forum further called for increased participation by Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in providing affordable, long-term, naira-denominated financing to reduce investment risks and support the development of gas infrastructure projects.
In addition, participants advocated stronger partnerships among investors and operators, including the creation of gas aggregation hubs and scalable distribution models aimed at expanding access, improving efficiency, and driving growth in the domestic gas market.
They maintained that translating Nigeria’s gas wealth into tangible economic and social benefits would require decisive action, sustained investment, and collaboration across the entire value chain.
