Nigeria's Gas Exports Exceed 45% Amid Power Crisis

In January and February 2026, Nigeria exported an average of 45.8% of its gas, even as the country faced a deepening power supply crisis. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reported that Nigeria has been experiencing serious power cuts for at least two months.

The Director-General of the Department of Gas Development (DGDO) indicated that gas producers are not adhering to domestic gas delivery obligations, which are mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. The prioritization of gas exports is attributed to their more lucrative nature compared to domestic sales, compounded by low government-regulated prices and non-payment of existing debts owed to gas companies.

In January, gas exports reached 97,896.41 million standard cubic feet (mmscf), accounting for 45.3% of total gas utilization, while February saw exports of 91,740.87 mmscf, representing 46.3%. Domestic gas supply significantly declined, with local sales dropping by 16.9% in the same period, indicating a structural shift towards export over local consumption.