By Bisi Bamishe
With Nigeria LNG Limited’s Train 7 Project now beyond the 90 per cent completion mark, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said its successful delivery will be critical to Nigeria’s ambition to build a stronger gas economy, expand exports, create jobs, deepen local capacity and reinforce investor confidence.
President Tinubu spoke at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, when he received the NLNG delegation, led by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, Adeleye Falade, who briefed him on the progress of Train 7 and the company’s broader role in Nigeria’s gas development agenda.
The briefing covered the status of Train 7 and prospects for future expansion, alongside key issues affecting NLNG’s operations and wider contribution to Nigeria. These included liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pricing and accessibility, LPG trucking through the Bonny-Bodo Road corridor, the company’s contribution to public revenue, its investment in the Bonny-Bodo Road and national social-impact projects, and the need for a more enabling business environment.
President Tinubu congratulated Falade on his appointment, saying he was taking charge of NLNG at a defining moment for the company and for Nigeria’s gas ambitions. With Train 7 nearing completion, the President said NLNG must help convert the country’s gas reserves into jobs, exports, industrial growth and long-term economic value.
“I congratulate you, Leye, on your appointment. Train 7 is at the centre of our national gas agenda. Its success matters not only to NLNG, but to Nigeria’s economic future,” President Tinubu said.
The President commended the progress recorded on Train 7, describing the project as a benchmark for delivery, partnership, Nigerian Content and investor confidence. He assured the NLNG management that the Federal Government would continue to improve the business climate, provide greater regulatory clarity and remove bottlenecks to major oil and gas investments.
“Nigeria is open for business, but it must be business that creates value at home – building capacity, supporting communities, protecting the environment and contributing to national prosperity. NLNG must continue to lead by example,” he added.
In his remarks, Falade thanked the President for his support and assured him that NLNG remained fully committed to the safe and successful delivery of Train 7 and to the company’s wider responsibility to Nigeria.
“Your Excellency, we appreciate your administration’s support for NLNG and for the wider gas sector. Train 7 is a strategic national undertaking. With the project now over 90 per cent complete, our immediate priority is to deliver the remaining work safely, efficiently and to the required quality, while preparing the plant for reliable and sustainable operations,” Falade said.
He said the project would expand Nigeria’s LNG production capacity, support export growth, create opportunities for Nigerian workers and businesses, deepen local participation and generate greater long-term value from the country’s gas resources.
On LPG, Falade restated NLNG’s commitment to supporting the domestic market and improving access to cleaner cooking fuel for Nigerian households and businesses.
Falade called for coordinated action by the Federal Government, regulators and industry operators to expand domestic supply, improve storage and distribution infrastructure, eliminate avoidable costs and create a more transparent and efficient market that would make LPG more accessible and affordable to Nigerians.
“Improving LPG accessibility is important to Nigeria’s energy transition and to the wellbeing of millions of Nigerian households. NLNG remains committed to supporting the domestic market, but improving affordability requires coordinated action across the entire LPG value chain,” he said.
Falade asked for the President’s support in addressing ease-of-doing-business challenges, particularly the proliferation of taxes, levies, charges and regulatory demands imposed by different levels and agencies of government.
He said multiple and sometimes conflicting fiscal and regulatory obligations increase operating costs, create uncertainty and can become barriers to existing operations and future investment.
Falade assured the President that NLNG was ready to align more closely with the administration’s development agenda and explore additional opportunities for partnership with the Federal Government.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment to sustain momentum on Train 7 as the project enters its final stretch and to strengthen the partnership between the Federal Government and NLNG. Both sides agreed to continue working together to support the project’s successful delivery and NLNG’s broader contribution to Nigeria’s gas development and economic growth.
