Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced a transformative $3.5 billion investment program to develop comprehensive gas infrastructure in Akwa Ibom State, positioning the region as Nigeria’s premier gas-based industrial hub.
The substantial commitment, revealed during the South-South Gas Utilisation Forum, encompasses an inter-county gas pipeline network, offshore-to-land delivery systems, methanol and fertilizer plants, plus a floating liquefied natural gas facility.
NNPC Executive Vice President for Gas, Olalekan Ogunleye, emphasized the investment’s strategic importance for domestic gas utilization, industrial development, and employment creation across the South-South region.
“The commitment of NNPC to this investment underscores our belief in the vast economic potential of this region,” Ogunleye stated, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the infrastructure development program.
The announcement coincided with a landmark Memorandum of Understanding between Akwa Ibom State Government and the Gas Aggregator Company of Nigeria, establishing a coordinated framework for gas sector development.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the initiative as concrete implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s gas-to-prosperity agenda, emphasizing the transition from gas production to value-added industrial activities.
“This is more than a meeting, it is a declaration of intent and a roadmap to gas-based prosperity. The South-South must evolve from being a gas-producing region to becoming a value-adding industrial zone,” Ekpo declared.
The MoU outlines development of a comprehensive Akwa Ibom State Gas Master Plan, covering infrastructure mapping, demand forecasting, and supply chain optimization. Virtual pipeline solutions including compressed and liquefied petroleum gas distribution will support both small and large-scale industrial applications.
Governor Umo Eno, represented by Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi, committed to creating an enabling investment environment while ensuring environmental compliance and community benefit delivery.
Gas Aggregator Company Managing Director Chijioke Uzoho positioned the partnership as a replicable model for nationwide gas sector development, expressing enthusiasm for NNPC’s investment commitment and state government collaboration.
The forum attracted representatives from multiple South-South states, NNPC senior management, and key industry stakeholders, demonstrating broad regional alignment behind the gas industrialization strategy. Aliyu Abdullahi Ibrahim
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