NGCC set to transform Nigeria’s gas sector, unlock investment – Ekpo

By Adewale Sanyaolu

The federal government has launched the National Gas Infrastructure Command Centre (NGCC), a centralised digital platform aimed at boosting transparency, coordination and efficiency across Nigeria’s gas value chain.

Inaugurating the project, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the NGCC is a key enabler of the country’s gas-to-power ambitions and broader industrialisation goals under the Decade of Gas Initiative.

“NGCC is a national asset. Its success demands unified effort, clear deliverables, and progress that benefits all Nigerians,” Ekpo said. He added that a newly formed steering committee will set strategic direction and ensure policy alignment, while the Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) will design the technical framework, including system architecture, operational protocols, and risk management.

The NGCC, backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and grounded in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, will operate under a private sector-led Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with no financial burden on the government. Engineering Automation Technology Ltd. (EATL), an indigenous company, will oversee system design and funding in partnership with its Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

Dr Emmanuel Okon, MD/CEO of EATL, described NGCC as a platform for real-time monitoring, operational coordination, emergency response, and infrastructure optimisation.

“It will ensure all operators work in sync, enhancing safety, efficiency, and transparency across pipelines, processing facilities, and commercial gas flows,” he said.

Mrs Patience Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, highlighted its potential to create jobs, strengthen infrastructure management, and drive industry growth. Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, DG of the ICRC, called NGCC both a transformative governance tool and a national security asset, assuring strict regulatory compliance.

State-owned energy companies are also ready to collaborate with investors like EATL to deliver the federal government’s gas sector goals, said Mr Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive VP, Gas, Power and New Energy.

The NGCC Steering Committee is chaired by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), with members from the ministry, ICRC, NMDPRA, NNPC Ltd, and EATL. The JTWG brings together technical and funding leads from EATL and representatives from relevant government departments, GACN, and the Decade of Gas Secretariat.

The initiative is part of Nigeria’s drive to raise natural gas production to 12B scfd by 2030, strengthen investor confidence, and position the country as a major industrial and energy hub.