Nigeria’s Gas Output Drops-NEITI

       Mohammed Shosanya

Nigeria’s  gas production has declined from 2.744 trillion standard cubic feet (SCF) in 2021 to 2.521 trillion SCF in 2022, forcing the sector’s contribution to Gros Domestic Products (GDP) fall from 7.32% in 2019 to 4.34% in 2022,a report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI),has said

Chris Ochonu,Assistant Director, Communications and Stakeholders’ Management,signed a statement which conveyed the report made available to Premium News on Monday.

It attributed the development to insecurity and oil theft, adding that the sector recorded a slight recovery to 2.491 trillion SCF in 2023.

“These information and data were contained in the latest oil and gas industry independent report released to the public in Abuja by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).From the Reports, NEITI further disclosed that a five (5) year trend analysis (2019 – 2023) of gas production in Nigeria showed that the highest production volumes of 3.048 trillion SCF was recorded in 2019 and the lowest of 2.491 trillion standard cubic feet was produced in 2023.

On the contribution of the oil and gas industry to employment opportunities. during the period under review, the NEITI findings showed that only six thousand, seven hundred and twenty eight 6,728 persons were employed in the sector of which (83%) men while only 17% were women.

“In the same direction, the sector witnessed a steady decline on the sector’s contributions to country gross domestic product (GDP).A trend of the contribution of oil and gas sector to GDP in Nigeria from 7.32% to 4.34% in 2022 and 5.75% to Nigeria’s total GDP of N 202.365 trillion (US$478.06 billion) as at last year 2023.

“The report attributed the decline to dwindling oil production arising from insecurity, oil theft and sabotage”,the statement added.

Besides,the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,Mr Ola Olukoyede warned all industry players,oil and gas companies and relevant government agencies that refusal to comply fully with the annual NEITI Industry Audit process is considered by the EFCC as a costly mistake adding that where the work of NEITI stops marks the beginning of EFCC investigations.

He disclosed that the current NEITI Report on the Oil and Gas sector is now with the Commission for further necessary action.

He commended NEITI for its credible data and promised to deepen cooperation with the agency.

The Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere announced that a private member bill to amend NEITI Act 2007 to align with the current realities sponsored by him on the floor of the House has already scaled through first reading.

He advised all stakeholders in the NEITI process to partner with his Committee to amend the NEITI law.

The Civil Society Representative on the NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) Dr Erisa Danladi used the forum to remind the Civil Society and the Media that information and data for the 2022 and 2023 Oil and Gas Industry put in the public domain has provided enough tools for engagements and investigation through constructive advocacy.

The Executive Secretary,NEITI, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji used the opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration for supporting NEITI through his policy of non-interference.

He welcomed the Administration’s support for the Agency’s Open Data policy and announced that NEITI has embarked upon establishing a Data Center to serve as a one-stop shop for information and data on Nigeria’s extractive sector.

The Centre will serve as a warehouse for all extractive industry data in aggregated and disaggregated formats for easy public access by multi-stakeholders, especially the civil society, the media, extractive industry companies, government agencies and the legislature.

Besides,the Centre will also provide data information analysis, training and manpower development in data science education deployment and utilisation required to sustain a robust public knowledge and understanding of Nigeria’s extractive industry.

The NEITI Executive Secretary further explained that under the scope of the first phase of the project, covered under the 2023 and 2024 budgets respectively the hardware infrastructure with integrated communications facilities have been completed since 17th of August 2025 as against the initial projection of March 2024 as a result of complex challenges especially in the area of foreign exchange.

Dr Orji expressed satisfaction with the completion of the hardware infrastructure now in place.

He further stated that the next phase of the project involves content development and management.

This, he said involves data mining, cleaning, data migration, data storage, integration, data visualization and analysis.

He added that the next phase would require “development, design and deployment of suitable software applications requisite skills and manpower including training and retraining of staff.

Dr Orji assured that working under the leadership of our Board, the National Stakeholders Working Group, all these challenges will be addressed and this will put the Data Center into optimal use as soon as possible.

Dr Orji described as most encouraging the growing interests in the project which he described as innovative and the first by any EITI implementing country in the world.