Nigeria’s natural gas production rose to 7.93 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) in May 2026, marking a modest 0.63% year-on-year increase from the 7.88bcf/d recorded in May 2025. In
The figures reveal a significant shift in gas utilisation patterns, with domestic market sales rising to 2.18bcf/d while export sales dropped sharply from 4.13bcf/d to 3.07bcf/d over the period.
This was revealed in a report released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Production Snapshot
A breakdown of production in May shows that Non-Associated Gas (NAG) slightly outpaced Associated Gas (AG), contributing 3.98bcf/d against AG’s 3.96bcf/d.
A statement signed by NUPRC’s Head of Media and Strategic Communication, Eniola Akinkuotu, said this near parity signals the maturation of dedicated gas development initiatives and suggests non-associated gas is increasingly carrying its own weight in the production mix.
While production showed a marginal month-on-month decline of 0.12% from April’s 7.94bcf/d, the five-month trend tells a story of consistent growth. The data shows that production has steadily risen from 7.80bcf/d in January to 7.81bcf/d in February, 7.85bcf/d in March, and peaked at 7.94bcf/d in April.
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Year-to-date production has remained firm, averaging 7.87Bscf/d – up from 7.82Bscf/d recorded in the first quarter, with further acceleration to 7.94Bscf/d across April and May.
Domestic vs Export Market
On gas utilisation, the data reveals a notable rebalancing. Export sales now account for 40% of total production, down from previous levels, while domestic sales represent 26.6% of total gas utilisation.
This increase in domestic sales reflects ongoing efforts to meet local supply obligations, particularly as power, industrial, and gas-based manufacturing sectors continue to expand under the national gas agenda.
Industry observers suggest the potential for further growth remains significant as these sectors mature.
Flaring and Own-Use
Of the total production, 2.11bcf/d (26.5%) was allocated to own-use, while 0.57bcf/d (6.9%) was flared.
The flaring figure underscores the country’s commitment to ending routine gas flaring by 2030, though industry stakeholders note that significant infrastructure investment will be required to achieve this target.
The data paints a picture of a gas sector in transition, balancing domestic obligations against export commitments while maintaining steady production growth.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X