Business
Major Gas Investment Looms as FG Scrutinizes 215 Projects for $20 Billion Funding
The NMDPRA said it is reviewing 215 gas utilisation projects and targeting investments worth $20 billion
The agency said it has identified 70 of the 215 projects are top priority, with a demand potential of 15 billion standard cubic feet per day
The federal government is planning to significantly increase Nigeria’s gas production and domestic utilisation by 2030.
The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said it is reviewing 215 gas utilisation projects, and it has identified 70 of them that can attract investments worth $20 billion.
This was disclosed by the Authority’s chief executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, at the opening session of the Gas Utilisation Unlock Validation Series, held on the sidelines of the ongoing 43rd annual conference of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos.
The federal government declared a Decade of Gas plan in 2020 in a move to increase gas utilisation and harness the country’s over 200 trillion proven natural gas reserves.
The ambitious plan, which was launched in 2020 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, aims to make Nigeria a gas-powered economy.
At the session, the NMDPRA boss noted that the 70 gas projects identified from the 215 reviewed are high-impact projects with a combined potential demand of 15 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day (bscf/d).
If actualized, these projects would create thousands of jobs and accelerate industrial growth in the country, driving the strategic objectives of the Decade of Gas plan.
The Authority’s chief executive explained that the projects were assessed based on associated infrastructure needs, market linkages, supply zones, and existing gaps requiring policy and investment interventions.
He added that the projects spread across six major demand clusters: power generation, fertiliser production, petrochemicals, industrial feedstock, CNG/LPG, and export markets.
Ahmed, in his presentation, equally noted some hindrances to growth in Nigeria’s gas sector, including infrastructure gaps, regulatory overlaps, and market uncertainties.
He revealed that the Decade of Gas Secretariat has begun a three-week exercise to validate project data, align gas demand with supply, set appropriate pricing frameworks, and pinpoint the infrastructure and support systems required for effective execution.
He said:
“This validation series is not merely an audit of projects but a springboard for accelerated implementation. Each project team will work closely with the NMDPRA and the Decade of Gas Secretariat to validate assumptions, remove bottlenecks, and assign clear responsibilities and timelines.”
Affirming NMDPRA’s commitment, Ahmed urged operators, regulators, and investors to collaborate strategically to deepen gas utilisation and help Nigeria achieve its goal of being a gas-powered economy by 2030.
“Time is not on our side. We must ensure that within the next 12 to 24 months, we begin commissioning critical gas development projects that will drive the goals of the Decade of Gas,” he advised.
The Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, who delivered a keynote address at the NAPE convention, said the Decade of Gas initiative can help Nigeria increase gas production by an additional 4.7 billion cubic feet per day by 2030.
He urged stakeholders to collaborate to increase domestic utilisation of gas and also increase export revenues, in line with the 2030 target.
“This marks the initial phase of a ten-year strategy to reposition Nigeria as a gas-driven industrial power, delivering clean energy, strengthening industries, and generating export revenues through coordinated public–private collaboration,” he said.
Analysts have said that increasing local utilisation of gas requires improved investment in gas-to-power, clean cooking, and gas mobility infrastructure.
Business
Black Market Naira To Dollar Exchange Rate Today 12th January 2026
What is the Dollar to Naira Exchange rate at the black market, also known as the parallel market (Aboki fx)?
You can swap your dollar for Naira at these rates.
How much is a dollar to naira today in the black market?
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players buy a dollar for N1490 and sell at N1505 on Sunday, 11th January 2026 according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).
Black Market Exchange Rate Today 12th January, 2026
Buying Rate N1485
Selling Rate N1500
The exchange rate between the US dollar (USD) and the Nigerian naira (NGN) which rate we have given above; is a topic of high constant interest for people who are Nigerian and businesses and policymakers in Nigeria.
This rate of dollars to naira exchange rate influences not only the cost of imported goods but also the cost of travel, international education, and even local prices of certain commodities.
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.
Business
BREAKING: Petrol Depot Owners Crash Prices To Cheapest; Details Emerge
Petrol prices at Nigerian depots have dropped to their lowest levels in months as intense competition grips the downstream market, following the apparent collapse of the fuel supply agreement between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and independent marketers.
Fresh findings show that depot owners have slashed ex-depot prices to as low as N710 per litre, a sharp reversal from the steep hikes recorded just weeks earlier.,
In the first week of January 2026, depot owners sharply increased gantry prices after reports emerged that the Dangote Refinery had shut down its petrol production unit for maintenance.
Although the refinery denied the reports, the speculation was enough to jolt the market.
Depot prices surged, and the increases quickly filtered through to filling stations nationwide.
Independent marketers raised gantry prices from around N720 per litre to over N800 per litre, with analysts noting that depot operators were exploiting uncertainty surrounding Africa’s largest refinery.
Depot owners reverse course as competition intensifies
The price spike, however, has proven short-lived.
Checks reveal that depot owners have now reversed course, cutting prices aggressively to stay competitive with Dangote Refinery’s pricing structure, especially as fresh fuel imports enter the Nigerian market.
Data from PetroleumPriceNG shows that several major depots reduced prices significantly in recent days.
As of Sunday, January 11, 2026, ShellPlux sold petrol at N710 per litre, MAO at N715, while A.Y.M.
Falling crude oil prices add more pressure
Energy experts say global oil market dynamics are also contributing to the decline in local petrol prices.
“Crude oil is currently trading between $50 and $60 per barrel in the international market,” energy policy analyst Adeola Yusuf told Legit.ng.
According to him, ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Venezuela and Iran have pushed crude prices lower, with direct implications for refined fuel costs.
“Crude oil is often used as a political tool and is highly sensitive to geopolitical developments. When prices drop, refined product prices usually follow, especially in domestic markets,” Yusuf explained.
Business
Good News: Cooking Gas Prices Drop As LPG Supply Improves Across Nigeria
Prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, are crashing in several parts of the country as retailers report improved supplies.
According to a market survey by PUNCH, retailers and consumers confirmed that prices have dropped and the product has become more available across the country.
This development follows months of scarcity, which led to a nationwide hike in prices. The scarcity peaked in September 2025.
Consumers in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and other states confirmed that they purchased cooking gas within the N1,050 to N1,400 range. Some major marketers were also reported to be selling directly to consumers at around N900 per kilogramme.
For many households, the current prices represent a significant improvement from the sharp increases recorded last year, when LPG prices surged after a dispute involving the Dangote refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) led to the shutdown of some gas facilities.
Despite the improvement, several consumers said they were hopeful that prices would fall below N1,000 per kilogramme in the new year, arguing that lower costs are critical to promoting clean cooking and reducing reliance on firewood and kerosene.
Speaking on the situation, the National Chairman of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Ayobami Olarinoye, said the LPG market had become relatively stable, with increased supply reaching Lagos.
According to Olarinoye, some off-takers are now receiving gas in Apapa, Lagos, helping to ease availability challenges experienced in previous months.
He explained that retail prices at street-level outlets currently range between N1,300 and N1,400 per kilogramme, noting that costs vary based on neighbourhoods, transportation and logistics.
Olarinoye added that prices could be lower at filling stations and gas plants, where operational and distribution costs are reduced.
He further disclosed that retailers currently purchase LPG from major marketers at prices between N960 and N1,050 per kilogram, depending on the supplier. According to the NUPENG official, sellers offering LPG below N1,000 per kilogramme are typically major dealers who own their own plants and sell directly to end users and do not distribute to retailers.
-
Business19 hours agoBREAKING: Petrol Depot Owners Crash Prices To Cheapest; Details Emerge
-
News2 days agoBuhari’s Ex-Minister Pantami Breaks Silence Over Alleged Wedding Plan With Aisha Buhari
-
News1 day ago“Do Not Test Trump’s Resolve”: US Issues Fresh Threat To Nigeria
-
Entertainment1 day agoSO SAD: Actress and Content Creator Sunshine D!es After Surgery; Details of Last Moment Trends
-
Lifestyle2 days agoChimamanda: Heartbreaking Details About What Killed Author’s Late Son Emerge
-
Sports2 days agoAFCON: Nigerian Billionaire Splashes Dollars On Super Eagles
-
Politics7 hours agoFCT Minister Wike Reacts To Call For Tinubu To Sack Him
-
Business3 hours agoBlack Market Naira To Dollar Exchange Rate Today 12th January 2026
