Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has highlighted the role of Nigeria’s vast gas reserves in powering the country’s ambitious 4,000km, 350 km/h high-speed rail network, describing it as a catalyst for trade, investment, and industrial growth.
Speaking on Tuesday at the International Railway Conference 2025 in Abuja, organised by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and De-Sadel Nigeria Limited, Ekpo said the project would open new economic corridors and accelerate regional integration.
“For decades, our nation relied on crude oil while gas remained underutilised. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, the ‘Decade of Gas Initiative’ has made gas the centrepiece of our energy strategy, repositioning it as the foundation of Nigeria’s economic and industrial future,” he said.
With 210 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves and a potential of up to 600 trillion cubic feet, Ekpo said gas provides a clean, affordable, and sustainable solution to power the capital-intensive railway sector.
He noted that gas-to-power projects would guarantee reliable electricity for railway stations, industrial hubs, and urban centres, while gas-to-liquids (GTL) and LNG would enable low-carbon rail operations.
“The high-speed rail will spur the growth of gas-based industries such as fertiliser plants, petrochemicals, methanol production, and CNG hubs, transforming connected cities into industrial growth centres,” he said, adding that this would boost Nigeria’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Ekpo stressed that these efforts align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to industrialise Nigeria, create jobs, and lift millions out of poverty through sustainable energy and infrastructure development.
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