The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken a major step towards enhancing its gas sector regulation by entering into a strategic partnership with the United Kingdom’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem).
The agreement was solidified during a high-level meeting in London between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, and senior officials from both Ofgem and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
According to a statement released by Ekpo’s media aide, Louis Ibah, the collaboration is geared towards advancing regulatory innovation and capacity building in Nigeria’s gas sector. Key areas of focus include promoting domestic gas utilisation, integrating regional energy markets, supporting gas-to-power projects, and expanding critical infrastructure such as pipelines and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) networks through strategic investment and innovation.
“The Federal Government also seeks to draw insights from Ofgem’s practices in promoting investor confidence and consumer protection,” the statement noted.
Ekpo underscored the importance of closer collaboration between Nigerian and UK-based companies to stimulate investment in gas infrastructure, stating that such partnerships would help accelerate development in the sector. He also pointed to the need for regulatory frameworks that encourage the adoption of renewable gases like hydrogen within Nigeria’s energy mix.
“By fostering partnerships between Nigerian entities and UK-based firms, we can attract investments that will bolster our gas infrastructure, ensuring efficient delivery and utilisation.
Nigeria is committed to reducing methane emissions and promoting decarbonisation in our upstream operations. Let us continue to forge pathways that lead to a more prosperous and energy-secure future,” he said.
Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely effort to support Nigeria’s regulatory evolution. He added that with companies like Osprey Investments facilitating the exchange of global expertise, the country is better positioned to build a transparent, resilient, and investor-friendly midstream framework.
Both the Ministry and the NMDPRA reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing collaboration with Ofgem to drive forward reforms that align Nigeria’s gas sector with international sustainability and economic standards.