Scrutinises proposed $200b rail, power, gas project
Federal Government has inaugurated a Gas-to-Power Monitoring Committee in a renewed push to tackle persistent gas supply constraints blamed for crippling electricity generation across the country.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, described the move as a “decisive and strategic step” to resolve one of the most critical bottlenecks in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Adelabu noted that gas-fired plants account for about 80 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity generation, but have continued to face setbacks due to supply disruptions, pipeline vandalism, mounting debts to gas producers, and weak coordination within the sector.

According to Adelabu, the inauguration is also “a declaration of intent and a clear signal that this administration will no longer accept the status quo where gas supply disruptions, pipeline vandalism, mounting debts to gas producers, and weak sector coordination continue to undermine our generation capacity and deprive Nigerians of reliable electricity”.

The minister explained that the committee emerged from deliberations at the first quarter 2026 Ministerial Power Sector Working Group meeting, where infrastructure gaps, liquidity constraints, and pricing challenges were identified as key impediments to steady gas supply.

According to him, the committee is mandated to monitor and drive the resolution of critical issues, including the repair and maintenance of damaged gas pipelines, the settlement of outstanding supplier debts, and other commercial and operational barriers that limit gas availability to power plants.

The minister expressed confidence in the committee’s capacity, noting that its membership reflects broad stakeholder representation across the gas-to-power value chain, including the Ministry of Power, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Association of Generation Companies, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), the Nigerian Gas Association, and consumer advocacy groups.
ALSO, the Federal Government has constituted an inter-agency technical committee to scrutinise a proposed $200 billion integrated gas, power and high-speed rail project.

Inaugurating the panel in Abuja yesterday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, tasked members to carry out a thorough, objective and professional review of the proposal in line with national interest.

He said the committee’s work was critical to ensuring that government decisions on the ambitious infrastructure plan were guided by credible technical analysis, financial verification and regulatory compliance.

The proposal, submitted by De-Sadel (Nig.) Limited in partnership with China Liancai Petroleum Investment Holdings Limited, outlines a multi-phase programme combining gas development, power generation and transmission, alongside a 4,000-kilometre high-speed rail network linking key economic corridors such as Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Port Harcourt.

According to Akume, while the project holds significant potential to transform transportation, strengthen energy security and stimulate industrial growth, it must undergo comprehensive scrutiny to determine its feasibility and alignment with national priorities.

The committee draws membership from relevant ministries, departments and agencies, including those responsible for transportation, petroleum resources, finance, justice and environment, as well as regulatory and security institutions.

Presenting an overview of the proposal, the Managing Director of De-Sadel Consortium, Samuel Ukoh, described the project as a transformative infrastructure initiative capable of redefining Nigeria’s economic landscape.