The Decade of Gas Secretariat, in collaboration with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), has intensified efforts to promote public understanding of Nigeria’s gas economy through a media capacity-building workshop for journalists in Port Harcourt.
The June 19, 2026 programme brought together 30 journalists from television, radio, print and digital media organisations to enhance reporting on the country’s gas development agenda and its contribution to economic growth, energy security, industrialisation, job creation and improved living standards.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Taofeek Balogun of the Decade of Gas Secretariat said the Port Harcourt workshop was the third in a series of media engagements that commenced in 2025, following similar sessions in Lagos and Abuja.
Balogun disclosed that Nigeria’s gas sector has continued to record significant progress, with year-to-date gas production reaching 7.85 billion standard cubic feet per day (bcfd). He added that domestic gas utilisation has exceeded the two bcfd mark, while gas exports have climbed to their highest level in five years, driven by increasing demand from the power, industrial, transportation, export and household sectors.
He also announced the successful completion of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) River Niger Crossing by NGIC/NNPCL, describing it as a major infrastructure milestone expected to enhance gas transportation nationwide, stimulate industrial growth, attract investment and strengthen the country’s energy security.
On domestic gas utilisation, Balogun reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to clean cooking energy, with a target of distributing cooking gas cylinders to five million households by 2030.
He explained that following the rollout of the clean cooking programme across the six geopolitical zones by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, implementation would commence at the state level beginning with Bayelsa State in July 2026. Under the initiative, 27,000 households in Bayelsa are expected to receive cooking gas cylinders this year as part of the one million homes annually target.
Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer of Pi-CNG & EV, Mr. Tosin Coker, said the Federal Government was accelerating the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles as cleaner and more affordable transportation alternatives.
He revealed that government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are being encouraged to convert existing vehicle fleets to CNG and procure CNG-powered vehicles to reduce transportation costs and improve energy efficiency.
According to Coker, more than 100,000 vehicles have so far been converted to CNG nationwide under the initiative, reflecting growing acceptance of alternative fuel technologies and supporting Nigeria’s transition to cleaner and more sustainable transportation.
Participants at the workshop commended the initiative, describing it as a valuable platform for strengthening media capacity and improving public awareness of developments in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Decade of Gas Secretariat and Pi-CNG & EV reaffirmed their commitment to sustained stakeholder engagement and public education as the country advances its vision of building a gas-powered economy.
