President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emphasised the need for Nigeria’s Southeast region to translate its economic potential into tangible development, describing a proposed $100 million gas pipeline project as a major step towards industrialisation, investment and job creation.
The 400-kilometre gas distribution network is designed to connect natural gas resources in Imo State to industrial and commercial centres across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
Speaking through the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, at an investment agreement signing ceremony in Enugu on October 27, 2026, Tinubu said the initiative would strengthen manufacturing and unlock economic opportunities across the region.
The project is being developed through the South East Development Commission (SEDC), in partnership with the South East Investment Company, GasSync and NNPC Gas Marketing Limited.
According to the project’s promoters, approximately 150 potential customers have been identified, with projected demand of 254 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
Tinubu explained that the pipeline would help address energy supply challenges that have limited industrial expansion, allowing businesses to access gas for manufacturing, power generation and other commercial activities.
He also stressed that regional infrastructure should connect industries and markets across state boundaries rather than serve isolated locations. He said the broader objective was to create conditions for new factories, industrial parks and investments that had been delayed by unreliable energy supplies.
The SEDC has committed $3 million to the project and is seeking to mobilise additional funding, with a target of up to $30 million in regional investment participation.
The project’s promoters have indicated that construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with the first gas delivery projected for the second quarter of 2028, subject to the completion of the necessary arrangements.
Governors and representatives from the five Southeast states have expressed support for the initiative, highlighting its potential to strengthen manufacturing, revive struggling industries and create employment opportunities for young people.
Tinubu urged the SEDC and its partners to maintain transparency, commercial discipline, environmental responsibility and high safety standards throughout implementation.
He added that the project’s success should be measured by the investments it attracts, the industries it supports, the jobs it creates and the improvements it brings to the livelihoods of people across the Southeast.
