Nigeria is beginning to unlock its vast natural gas reserves after decades of underutilisation, with the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) driving projects that promise to lower costs, boost industry, and advance the country’s energy transition.
Launched by President Bola Tinubu in early 2024, the Fund was created to plug infrastructure gaps that have long prevented gas from becoming a mainstream energy source. Within its first year, MDGIF has backed 16 companies, financing projects that range from compressed natural gas (CNG) stations to large-scale storage terminals.
Some initiatives are already reshaping access to cleaner fuel. FEMADEC Energy has commissioned five CNG refuelling stations across universities, with more planned before the end of 2025. Asiko Energy is building a 5,000 MT LPG/Propane and 13,200 MT LNG terminal in Lagos, due in 2026, while Ibile Oil and Gas is nearing completion of 15 CNG outlets expected to open next year. Others, such as Topline and Rolling Energy, are advancing mini-LNG plants and refuelling networks that will extend across multiple states.
The speed of progress is striking in a sector where regulatory bottlenecks and financing delays often stretch projects over years. By pushing early commissioning, MDGIF has already begun to deliver visible results: cheaper transport fuel, more reliable industrial energy, and reduced dependence on costly petroleum imports.
The economic and social benefits are mounting. Expanded access to gas is cutting household energy bills, giving manufacturers a competitive edge, and generating new jobs in engineering, logistics, and services. The Fund’s governance model also prioritises transparency and partner accountability to ensure each investment translates into measurable community impact.
“Our mandate is to turn potentials into prosperity,” said MDGIF Executive Director Oluwole Adama, pledging sustained oversight and delivery discipline.
With more projects scheduled for completion between 2025 and 2026, MDGIF is positioning itself as a catalyst for a cleaner, more resilient energy system — and a driver of Nigeria’s broader industrial and economic renewal.
