The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially flagged off a new censorship and regulatory oversight initiative for the gas sector, citing national security, environmental concerns, and economic integrity as key motivators. This move, announced by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, aims to tighten supervision of gas usage, sales, distribution, and media representations within the country.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, the Minister emphasized the growing importance of gas in Nigeria’s energy transition plan and the need to guard against misuse, sabotage, and misinformation, especially as Nigeria pushes for cleaner energy and export-driven gas development.
“We are not just regulating the sector—we are preserving national security and promoting transparency. This censorship is targeted at preventing the reckless distribution of false data and the unlicensed dissemination of gas,” Minister Ekpo stated.
The policy also involves the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), who are tasked with ensuring that gas stations, distributors, and even media outlets promoting gas products comply with the new directive. Violators may face sanctions, withdrawal of licenses, or criminal prosecution.
While some industry players welcomed the regulation for its potential to sanitize the market, others have raised concerns about freedom of expression and bureaucratic bottlenecks, especially in the media and tech-based gas start-ups.
This development comes amid Nigeria’s ambitious plan to make gas the cornerstone of its economic diversification through the “Decade of Gas” initiative, first declared in 2021.
Stay tuned to FrontNaija.com for more updates on this developing story.
