Nigeria produced about 1.37 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas between January and June 2025, according to data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

The report showed that gas production averaged 229 billion scf monthly, with January recording the highest output of 236.3 billion scf, while February had the lowest at 199.7 billion scf.

Out of the total volume, 1.26 trillion scf was utilised, representing 91.8 per cent of production. This comprised 408.3 billion scf for field use, 370.7 billion scf for domestic supply, and 481.1 billion scf exported.

Gas flaring remained a challenge, as companies burnt 101.4 billion scf during the six months, accounting for 7.4 per cent of total production. The highest flaring occurred in January at 18.7 billion scf, while February recorded the lowest at 15.9 billion scf.

The commission noted that April, May and June data are provisional and subject to reconciliation in the second quarter.

The government has said that the sustained levels of production highlight Nigeria’s continued reliance on gas for power generation, industrial use, and export earnings, even as it pushes policies to curb flaring and expand domestic utilisation.

However, key players and experts in Nigeria’s oil, gas and power sectors have called for concerted measures and actions that will lead to proper utilisation of the country’s vast gas reserves.

According to them, Nigeria’s gas reserves are a critical asset towards achieving the ongoing energy transition that will be affordable and sustainable.

They expressed concerns that 200 trillion cubic feet of gas have been under the soil due to the government’s inconsistent policy and unpaid debts.

At the recent Oriental News Conference held in Lagos themed ‘Integrating Nigeria’s Gas Potentials into Strategic Energy Transition Initiatives’, the Manager, Energy Transition NLNG, Temitope Ogedengbe, advised that Nigeria must avoid adopting what he called a ‘copy & paste’ approach to energy transition, insisting that the country must tailor its strategy to reflect local realities, including the urgent need for economic growth, energy security, and national development.

A former Power Minister, Prof. Bart Nnaji, stated that the shortage of gas supply and infrastructure deficit have continued to act as disincentives to investment and growth in the power sector. Nnaji said in the next two decades, power generation in the country would be dominated by gas-fired plants.

He attributed Nigeria’s persistent gas shortage to inadequate investment in gas infrastructure and called for more support from both the government and the private sector.

Similarly, the Acting Managing Director and Gas Asset Manager of Neconde Energy Limited, Engr. Chichi Emenike, raised the alarm over the consequences of some policies of the government that have undermined the ongoing energy transition.

According to her, unpaid gas supplies, dollarised operations, and policy inconsistencies are discouraging investment in the sector.

Emenike said Neconde had gas that had been produced and supplied to the electricity generation companies and that had not been paid for in almost two years.