By Seun ibiyemi
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has launched Revision 2 of the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC), in a move aimed at strengthening transparency, improving efficiency and encouraging investment in the country’s gas market.
The Authority Chief Executive, Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, unveiled the revised framework at the opening of OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week 2026 in Lagos.
Umar described the Network Code as a critical framework for ensuring transparent and non-discriminatory access to Nigeria’s gas transportation infrastructure, providing clearer rules for operators and investors across the industry.
The Code establishes procedures for capacity booking, gas nominations, balancing, measurement and quality, offering greater predictability for gas shippers and other market participants.
He explained that Revision 2 builds on the original framework introduced in 2020 and the first revision issued in 2024, further strengthening the rules governing gas transportation and supporting the development of a more integrated and efficient domestic gas market.
The NMDPRA chief said an efficient gas transportation system was essential to unlocking Nigeria’s substantial natural gas resources and translating them into economic growth.
He noted that the country’s gas reserves presented significant opportunities for industrial development, electricity generation, employment creation and regional trade.
However, he stressed that realising these opportunities would require sustained investment in transportation infrastructure, gas processing facilities, storage capacity and product logistics, supported by effective regulation.
The revised Network Code is expected to provide a clearer framework for accessing transportation infrastructure and managing gas flows, helping industry participants plan operations and investment with greater certainty.
Improved transportation arrangements could also support stronger connections between gas producers, processors, power generators and industrial consumers.
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Beyond domestic reforms, Umar called for greater regulatory convergence among African countries to facilitate cross-border energy trade, harmonise industry standards and strengthen regional energy security.
He made the call while participating in a panel discussion titled “Regulatory Convergence in African Oil and Gas Markets.”
The session also featured Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority, and Musa Njie, Director of Water, Petroleum and Electricity at The Gambia’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.
The discussion examined how cooperation among regulators could improve market efficiency, attract investment and support the development of integrated energy markets across Africa.
Umar maintained that regulatory alignment should encourage cooperation between countries without undermining each nation’s responsibility to secure adequate energy supplies for its citizens.
Stronger coordination, he said, could help reduce barriers to cross-border energy transactions and create a more conducive environment for regional investment in oil and gas infrastructure.
Umar reaffirmed the NMDPRA’s commitment to transparent regulation, effective implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and sustained engagement with stakeholders across Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sectors.
He urged refiners, marketers, logistics operators, financiers and other industry participants to work with the Authority to build a resilient energy sector capable of supporting domestic supply, encouraging investment and contributing to Africa’s long-term prosperity.
The launch of Revision 2 marks another step in the evolution of Nigeria’s gas transportation framework as the country seeks to improve infrastructure access, strengthen market operations and expand the role of natural gas in its economic development.
