The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has described the $800m final investment decision for the Ima gas project as a major vote of confidence in Nigeria’s gas sector.
NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, stated this in a statement issued by the company on Friday.
TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited and AMNI International Petroleum Development Company Limited announced the FID on September 23, 2026.
The project is located in Oil Mining Leases 112 and 117, offshore Rivers State, with first gas expected by the end of 2028.
Ojulari said the investment demonstrated the growing attractiveness of Nigeria’s upstream gas industry.
“The FID is a decisive vote of confidence in Nigeria’s gas sector and in the bold reforms that have created competitive terms and a predictable investment environment,” he said.
According to NNPC, the project is expected to produce about 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day at peak production.
The gas will supply feedstock to Nigeria LNG Limited for its Train 7 expansion.
The expansion is expected to increase NLNG’s production capacity at Bonny Island from 22 million tonnes per annum to 30 million tonnes per annum.
NNPC said the FID was facilitated by presidential directives issued in 2024, which provided fiscal incentives for non-associated gas projects, streamlined contracting processes and reduced development costs.
It described Ima as the fourth major gas project to reach FID under President Bola Tinubu, following Iseni, Ubeta and HI.
The company also commended the partnership between AMNI, TotalEnergies and Nigerian financial institutions.
NNPC said the collaboration between an indigenous operator, an international partner and domestic financiers could serve as a model for future investments in the sector.
It added that it would continue working with the Federal Government, regulators and industry stakeholders to attract investments and deploy Nigeria’s gas resources for industrialisation, job creation and economic growth.
NUPRC: We’ll remove regulatory obstacles
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission also welcomed the Ima gas project’s FID.
NUPRC Chief Executive Officer, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the milestone demonstrated what could be achieved through sustained policy direction and committed partnerships.
Eyesan said the project would not have reached the investment stage without the presidential directives.
“Today’s success is attributable to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she said.
She added that the regulator would continue to support investors by removing bottlenecks within the industry.
“As the chief regulator in the industry, we will enable business, we will unplug obstacles. The President has set the path for us, and we are determined to follow through,” Eyesan said.
Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said the FID demonstrated the importance of cooperation among government institutions in attracting investment.
In a post on X, Verheijen said the development showed what could be achieved when policy, regulation and implementation were aligned.
“Yesterday’s Ima Gas FID was another example of what is possible when policy, regulation and implementation are aligned around a common goal,” she said.
Verheijen said the project would help unlock investment and translate Nigeria’s energy resources into jobs, economic growth and prosperity.
