The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has reported that Nigeria’s average daily natural gas production rose to 7.93 billion standard cubic feet per day (bcf/d) in May this year, representing a 0.63% year-on-year increase from the 7.88bcf/d produced in the corresponding period of 2025.
The commission, in its just published report on the gas output, disclosed that in the month under review, Non-Associated Gas (NAG) output was higher that Associated Gas (AG) production.
According to the data, Associated Gas production stood at 3.96bcf/d; Non-Associated Gas contributed 3.98bcf/d; total gas production eased marginally by 0.12% from 7.94bcf/d recorded in April 2026; and year-to-date average production stood at 7.87bcf/d, improving from 7.82bcf/d recorded in the first quarter.
The NUPRC report reflected that the nation’s gas output had maintained an upward trend since January this year, rising from 7.80bcf/d in January to 7.81bcf/d in February, 7.85bcf/d in March, 7.94bcf/d in April, before settling at 7.93bcf/d in May.
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The commission noted that the growing contribution of non-associated gas reflected the maturation of dedicated gas projects aimed at diversifying Nigeria’s energy production profile.
On gas utilization, the report showed that in the month under review, Nigeria exported 3.07bcf/d, accounting for about 40% of total gas production; and domestic gas sales increased to 2.18bcf/d, representing 26.6% of total utilization,
The commission further clarified that of the total gas production, about 2.11bcf/d, or 26.5%, was consumed for field operations and own use while gas flaring accounted for 0.57bcf/d, representing 6.9% of total production.
The data indicated that cumulatively so far this year about 92% of the nation’s natural gas production between January and April 2026 was utilized, reflecting continued progress in reducing routine gas flaring.
The latest data on the output and utilization rates from the commission showed that between January and April 2026, the country produced 947.78 billion standard cubic feet (Bscf) of gas. Of this volume, 872.69Bscf was utilised for domestic supply, exports and field operations while about 57.34Bscf was flared during the period.
When analyzed on monthly basis, gas utilisation remained above 91%, while flaring accounted for between 6% and 7% of output.
The current surge in domestic gas supply aligns with the government’s sustained initiatives targeted at supporting power generation, industrial development and gas-based manufacturing activity under the national gas expansion agenda.
