Shattering complacency, urging industry leaders and policymakers to abandon short-term fixes and commit to a long-term vision, Engr Effiong Okon delivered a bold and insightful perspective on the future of domestic gas utilization in Nigeria.
Okon, known industry wide as ‘Effy’, took a bold stance at the 2025 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES), while speaking on a panel titled “Domestic Gas Utilization – Powering Africa’s Industrial Future,”.
Okon dissected the challenges, opportunities, and strategic imperatives that define Nigeria’s gas sector in its quest for industrial transformation.
Kicking off his session, Okon emphasized the sheer magnitude of Nigeria’s gas reserves, pegged at 200 trillion cubic feet (TCF). However, he lamented that despite this vast potential, actual gas production and utilization remain significantly underwhelming.
“As a reservoir engineer, this means we should be doing 27 billion cubic feet (BCF) of gas per day. But where are we?” he challenged the audience.
Drawing comparisons with Qatar, a nation that has successfully leveraged its gas assets for economic growth, Okon highlighted a stark contrast.
“I worked in Qatar for five years. They don’t cut pipelines there. Qatar moved from producing seven million tons of LNG annually to a projected 144 million tons. They had a plan, and they executed it.”
The underlying message is clear. Nigeria has the resources but must take strategic steps to harness them effectively.
According to Okon, taking those strategic steps has been a focus of Seplat Energy since the year 2012 when it started investing in Gas futures as a lone wolf investor.
This insight provided a deep dive into Seplat Energy’s and Anoh Gas Processing Company’s investment strategy, underscoring their long-term commitment to the gas value chain. He detailed the company’s investments in gas infrastructure, including the expansion of processing plants from 90 million to 375 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) and the commissioning of a new $800 million Anoh Gas Processing Plant.
“We saw the future of gas early on. While others hesitated, we made bold investments in gas processing infrastructure. Today, we are reaping the rewards, but the journey hasn’t been without its challenges.”
Despite these ambitious investments, Okon acknowledged the stark realities on the ground, Nigeria’s inadequate gas infrastructure. “I have an $800 million gas processing plant ready to deliver, but there’s no evacuation route for the gas. We’ve been waiting on the OB3 pipeline for years.” This, he pointed out, is a major bottleneck to Nigeria’s gas development. Without reliable infrastructure, even the best-laid plans remain stalled.
To navigate this challenge, Anoh Gas Processing Company has been exploring alternative gas evacuation options, including supplying gas to Nigeria LNG (NLNG) and leveraging existing pipeline networks. “In this business, you must model multiple scenarios and prepare for all possibilities. Gas demand exists—from industries to fertilizers and power—but supply infrastructure must align with that demand.”
Okon also underscored the critical role of government policies and private-sector confidence in driving gas utilization. He cautioned against the short-term mindset that often plagues investment in Nigeria. “Many investors come in, face a challenge, and disappear. Real progress comes when we take a long-term view.” Seplat’s continued investment in gas, even amid challenges, is a testament to that commitment.
He further stressed that politicians and policymakers must move beyond rhetoric. “Every year, we come to these conferences, we talk, and politicians cycle in and out. What’s really changing?” For gas to truly power Nigeria’s industrial future, he argued, pragmatic action must replace wishful thinking.
Okon closed on a powerful note, reinforcing the role of gas not as a mere transition fuel but as a destination fuel for Nigeria’s energy future. “Gas will displace coal and oil. It is cleaner, abundant, and has the potential to industrialize our economy. But we must unlock its potential.”
His parting words were a clarion call to action: “We have no other country. We must make Nigeria work. And for that to happen, gas must take center stage.”
As Nigeria looks ahead, leveraging its gas assets to power industrialization, “Effy’s” message at NIES 2025 serves as both a wake-up call and a blueprint for action.
The question now is—will Nigeria rise to the challenge?
Seplat Producing Unlimited and Anoh Gas certainly believe so; as they lead a new cadre of indigenous oil giants coming out from Nigeria!
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ANOH Gas Processing Company Limited (AGPC), is an Incorporated Joint Venture between NNPC Limited (NNPCL) and Seplat Energy PLC.
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