President Bola Tinubu has flagged off a $100 million gas distribution pipeline project aimed at accelerating industrialisation, attracting investments and creating jobs across Nigeria's Southeast region.
The project, being implemented through the South East Development Commission (SEDC), will see the construction of a 400-kilometre gas pipeline network connecting gas resources to key industrial and commercial hubs in Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states.
Speaking through the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, at the South-East Gas Infrastructure Investment and Project Development Ceremony in Enugu, Tinubu described the initiative as a strategic investment designed to unlock the region's economic potential.
According to project promoters, the pipeline has an estimated demand of 254 million standard cubic feet of gas per day and about 150 potential customers have already been identified across the region.
Tinubu said the project aligns with his administration's vision of building an integrated regional economy, stressing that infrastructure should connect industries and markets beyond state boundaries.
"The Southeast's entrepreneurial spirit is one of Nigeria's greatest economic assets. The prosperity of the Southeast is inseparable from the prosperity of Nigeria," he said.
The President noted that the pipeline would support manufacturing activities in Aba, strengthen industrial clusters in Nnewi and Onitsha, boost investments in Enugu, enhance agro-processing in Ebonyi and link Imo's gas resources to wider regional markets.
He added that the initiative is not only intended to support existing industries but also to attract new investments, industrial parks and manufacturing facilities previously constrained by inadequate energy supply.
Tinubu further urged the SEDC and its partners to ensure transparency, environmental responsibility, community engagement and strict adherence to safety standards throughout the project's implementation.
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah commended Tinubu for establishing the SEDC, describing it as the long-awaited vehicle for driving Southeast industrialisation. He said the signing of the investment agreement marked the beginning of a transformative economic journey for the region.
"This investment will help realise our aspiration for a common market and coordinated industrial development across the Southeast," Mbah said.
The governor also pledged the support of Southeast governors, promising swift approvals for right-of-way access and environmental impact assessments to facilitate project execution.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the SEDC, Mark Okoye, said the commission had completed the necessary technical, financial and legal due diligence before committing funds to the project. He disclosed that the commission aims to mobilise up to $30 million in regional investment participation, including its initial $3 million contribution.
Representing project promoter GasSync, Callistus Mba explained that the pipeline would originate from Ohaji in Imo State, extending through Owerri and branching towards Aba and Onitsha, with further connections to Enugu and Ebonyi.
To speed up delivery, construction is expected to commence simultaneously from Ohaji and Onitsha rather than from a single location. Mba said procurement activities and funding arrangements are already underway, with construction targeted to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
He projected that the network would deliver its first gas supplies by the second quarter of 2028, provided all regulatory approvals, community engagements and right-of-way requirements are completed on schedule.
Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that the project would revive struggling industries, attract new businesses, create employment opportunities and significantly boost economic development across the Southeast.
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