Nigeria's Vast Gas Reserves Wasted Amid Energy Sector Inefficiencies

Nigeria's enormous gas reserve is being underutilized due to various inefficiencies in the energy sector. According to Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Nigeria has over 200 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, making it the largest in Africa and ninth globally.

The gas reserve is split between associated and non-associated gas, with most being used locally for power generation. However, despite its potential, gas consumption in Nigeria remains abysmally low due to high prices, which are out of reach for millions of households that still cook with firewood.

The federal government has launched several initiatives to boost cooking gas consumption, including the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, but progress is slow. The initiative aims to convert vehicles powered by petrol or diesel to gas consumption, providing cleaner and affordable transportation alternatives.