• Nigeria increased gas reserves by about 5 trillion cubic feet to 215.10 Tcf in one year.

• Oil and condensate reserves remained broadly stable at 37.01 billion barrels.

• Authorities target 10 bcf/day gas production by 2027, rising to 12 bcf/day by 2030.

Nigeria has increased its natural gas reserves by approximately 5 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) over the past year, according to data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission reported on April 7.

The regulator said gas reserves reached 215.10 Tcf as of January 1, compared with about 210 Tcf a year earlier. Meanwhile, proven reserves of oil and condensates stood at 37.01 billion barrels, marking a slight decline of 0.74% year-on-year.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission said it compiled these estimates using data submitted by oil and gas companies operating in the country, which it then consolidated through its oversight and evaluation processes.

Moreover, the regulator attributed the increase in gas reserves to new discoveries and technical reassessments of existing volumes.

With this development, Nigeria continues to strengthen its position as a major gas power in Africa, supported by the scale of its resources and recent production dynamics.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which updated its data in 2024, Nigeria holds the largest proven gas reserves on the continent. These reserves underpin the country’s strategy to expand its gas sector.

At the same time, the structure of production is evolving. An analysis published in January 2026 by ThisDay showed that the share of non-associated gas, produced from dedicated gas fields, increased significantly in 2025. This shift signals a diversification of supply beyond gas linked to oil production.

According to the Gas Master Plan 2026 published by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigeria aims to raise gas production to 10 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) by 2027, up from about 8 bcf/d currently.

Furthermore, the country targets 12 bcf/d by 2030, confirming an acceleration in production growth over the coming years.

However, oil production targets remain more cautious. Nigeria failed to stabilize output around its OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day in 2025.

Nevertheless, Bayo Ojulari said, as cited by BusinessDay, that the country aims to reach at least 1.8 million barrels per day by the end of this year.

This article was initially published in French by Abdel-Latif Boureima

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum