Nigerian Domestic Gas Sales Surge to 2.18 Billion Cubic Feet Daily Amid Rising Production

Nigeria’s daily natural gas production reached 7.93 billion standard cubic feet per day (bcf/d) in May 2026, spurred by an uptick in local demand and a stronger output from dedicated, non-associated gas fields.

The latest industry data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) highlights a 0.63 percent year-on-year growth compared to the 7.88 bcf/d recorded in May 2025. Over the first five months of the year, production maintained an upward trajectory, rising steadily from 7.80 bcf/d in January to 7.94 bcf/d in April, before dipping slightly by 0.12 percent in May.

A closer look at the May 2026 production mix reveals that non-associated gas marginally surpassed associated gas, contributing 3.98 bcf/d against 3.96 bcf/d. Analysts view this shifting balance as proof that targeted investment and infrastructure development in standalone gas fields are yielding significant results.

The domestic market has emerged as a major driver of this growth. Local sales expanded to 2.18 bcf/d, capturing 26.6 percent of total gas utilization as the power, industrial, and manufacturing sectors scaled up operations.

Conversely, export volumes experienced a contraction, dropping to 3.07 bcf/d to make up 40 percent of total production. Of the remaining gas generated, 2.11 bcf/d was funneled into oil field operations, while 0.57 bcf/d was flared.

Despite the persistent challenge of gas flaring, the figures point to an overall improvement in resource management. Nigeria successfully utilized roughly 92 percent of its total gas output through the first four months of the year, keeping the country on track with its environmental target to eliminate routine flaring by 2030.

While holding more than 200 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves among the largest on the African continent the country has historically struggled to fully capture its economic value due to legacy infrastructure gaps. Observers note that the current numbers reflect steady momentum under the federal government’s broader economic initiative to prioritize domestic gas commercialization over the decade.