The Association of Local Distributors of Gas has called for deeper industry-wide collaboration to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s gas distribution value chain.
The body made this call during the association’s inaugural Business Forum held recently at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund Tower in Abuja.
The event, themed ’Strengthening Nigeria’s Gas Distribution Value Chain: Challenges, Innovations, and the Path Forward’, brought together key stakeholders from across the country’s gas distribution landscape.
Participants unanimously emphasised the need to prioritise infrastructure development, regulatory clarity, and market-based reforms to drive investment and ensure reliable gas delivery.
Chairman of ALDG and Managing Director of Axxela Gas Distribution, Mr Kehinde Alabi, in his opening address, stressed the urgency of activating Nigeria’s vast gas reserves.
“The question is no longer if gas matters, but how we unlock its full potential,” Alabi said, calling for practical reforms and improved stakeholder collaboration.
Representing the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Technical Adviser (Downstream), Abel Igheghe, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting domestic gas development.
He praised local gas distributors for their growing contributions to job creation and improved energy access, pledging continued policy support.
Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen, decried the low level of domestic gas utilisation, noting that only 30 per cent of gas produced in Nigeria is currently consumed locally.
“This gap must be closed if we’re serious about using gas as a bridge fuel for industrialisation and energy transition,” she said.
In a similar vein, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, represented by Executive Director Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, reiterated the regulator’s commitment to ensuring infrastructure efficiency and competitive pricing to boost investor confidence and drive energy security.
Hon. Ahmed Aluko, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Gas, assured the forum of sustained legislative support to attract private sector investment and address bottlenecks in the sector.
The event, proudly sponsored by industry leaders such as Axxela, Shell Nigeria Gas, Falcon Corporation Limited, Tetracore Energy Group, and others, also featured strong representation from various industry bodies.
These included the Nigerian Gas Association, the Nigerian Liquefied and Compressed Gases Association, and the Virtual Gas Infrastructure Association of Nigeria, all of which echoed calls for a united front to address the sector’s challenges.
Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Ed Ubong, lauded the ALDG for its growing influence and for galvanising local players toward shared industry goals, saying, “This forum reflects how quickly ALDG has become a force in shaping Nigeria’s gas future.”
The Executive Secretary of ALDG, Mr Oga Adejo-Ogiri, emphasised the power of cross-sector collaboration, calling for a more coordinated and resilient gas distribution network.
