Shell has urged international oil companies (IOCs) and indigenous operators in Nigeria to strengthen partnerships to accelerate gas development and position the resource as the foundation of the country’s industrial expansion.

The company said that achieving this goal would require sustained policy consistency, increased infrastructure investment, and collaboration-driven business models capable of unlocking Nigeria’s vast natural gas potential.

According to the  Punch,  General Manager of Shell Energy Nigeria, Markus Hector — represented by the Head of Portfolio, Regulation and Supply, Chuka Amos-Ejesi — made the call at the 3rd Gas Investment Forum held in Lagos.

“There is a clear strategic case for collaboration,” Hector said. “IOCs bring international experience, deep capital reserves, and strong technical and risk management frameworks, while independents bring local insight, agility, and operational flexibility in the Nigerian context.”

He stressed that such partnerships should go beyond project execution to build local capacity across the engineering, supply chain, operations, and maintenance segments.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), Ralph Gbobo, said the company was investing heavily in gas infrastructure to support industries and expand access across the country.

“SNG is developing infrastructure by building gas hubs in Port Harcourt, Aba, Ota, and recently, Yenagoa, and hopes to extend to other cities,” Gbobo said.

He described infrastructure as the backbone of Nigeria’s gas industrialisation drive, noting that such investments would enhance access, reduce costs and emissions, and make gas a more competitive energy source for industries and communities.

Gbobo also underscored the need for stable and clear policies to attract long-term capital, adding that policy clarity and consistency are essential for investment confidence, while collaboration remains the catalyst for scale and innovation.

He reaffirmed that natural gas remains central to Nigeria’s energy transition and economic diversification agenda.

“Gas will continue to support Nigeria’s energy transition by providing reliable power while displacing more carbon-intensive fuels,” Gbobo said. “It will enhance job creation, industrial diversification, and regional trade. The success of these levers will depend on collaboration between the public and private sectors.”