Benue State is poised to become the first in Nigeria to produce coal bed methane (CBM), an unconventional form of natural gas extracted from coal, according to Prof. Mohammed Ibrahim, Chairman of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).
Speaking after a joint meeting with the National and State gas expansion committees and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, Prof. Ibrahim highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding domestic gas availability.
The new initiative aims to tap into non-traditional gas sources, increasing the nation’s gas supply and reducing reliance on conventional hydrocarbon reserves. Prof. Ibrahim also emphasized the importance of alternative sources for gas production, as Benue takes the lead in pioneering coal bed methane extraction.
Dr. Emmanuel Chenge, Chairman of the State Gas Expansion Programme, added that this initiative would help transform Benue’s economy, enabling the state to become a significant player in Nigeria’s gas industry.
The NGEP, which seeks to drive gas use for transportation, cooking, and industrialisation, is part of broader efforts to establish Nigeria as a gas-based industrial nation. However, experts note that the country requires $20 billion in annual investments for the next decade to meet its gas infrastructure needs.
