Nigeria's efforts to expand its gas infrastructure and make gas a driver of economic growth received a lift as the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) signed a $500 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025).
The four-year deal, blending debt and equity, will support investment in midstream and downstream gas projects. Afreximbank will provide financing, risk guarantees, and feasibility studies, while MDGIF may inject equity to complement debt.
Both organisations said the partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu's gas-driven industrialisation agenda and will help expand infrastructure, reduce flaring, and deliver energy solutions that power industries and create jobs. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this could translate into more reliable energy supply, reduced operating costs, and new opportunities in the gas value chain such as logistics, equipment supply, maintenance, and services.
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Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, noted that the government is building a pipeline of bankable projects to attract investors, which could also create space for SMEs to plug into larger contracts through subcontracting and supply chains.
Meanwhile, Fitch Solutions projects sub-Saharan LNG exports to surge by over 170% in the next decade, with Nigeria expected to lead growth thanks to the nearly completed Train 7 project. Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) also announced steps to cut methane emissions, highlighting ongoing sustainability measures that SMEs in green tech and services could leverage for partnerships.
With the trade fair generating $48 billion in deals and over 112,000 participants, the Afreximbank–MDGIF pact signals a boost not just for big energy players, but also for local SMEs that can tap into emerging opportunities in Nigeria's expanding gas sector.
