Nigeria gas export earnings up 4.2% to $6.22bn in H1 2026, Q2 drives growth
Nigeria's gas export earnings rose 4.2% year-on-year to $6.22 billion in the first half of 2026, up from $5.97 billion in H1 2025, according to Nairametrics' analysis of the Central Bank of Nigeria's Balance of Payments data. The gain was driven by a strong second quarter, when gas exports reached $3.63 billion--up 9.7% from $3.31 billion in Q2 2025--more than offsetting a slight dip in Q1 to $2.59 billion from $2.66 billion a year earlier. Quarter-on-quarter, earnings jumped about 40.2% from $2.59 billion in Q1 to $3.63 billion in Q2, adding $1.04 billion to export receipts. Physical gas volumes also climbed, with 733,778 million standard cubic feet exported in the first eight months of 2026, a 19.1% increase over the same period in 2025. The NUPRC's Gas Development Roadmap aims to unlock more than 55 trillion cubic feet of uncommitted gas reserves, while Nigeria holds over 200 trillion cubic feet of proven gas resources. This trend supports a stronger current-account surplus, which rose 67.9% to $7.54 billion in Q2 2026.
What does this mean for you? Higher gas earnings can boost foreign-exchange supplies, potentially easing pressure on the naira and creating openings in gas-related industries--from exploration and pipelines to power generation and petrochemicals. With the government pushing to attract investment into gas development, will you consider positioning yourself or your business to benefit from the sector's growth, or continue focusing on oil-centric opportunities?