Reps panel throws out petition against NIPCO's gas distribution licences in five south-west areas
A House subcommittee said the complaint relied on hearsay. The midstream regulator also promised to finish rolling out gas distribution licensing before the end of the year, ThisDay reported.
In 30 seconds
- A House of Representatives subcommittee on Thursday dismissed a petition asking for NIPCO's gas distribution licences to be cancelled.
- The licences cover Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states and free trade zones in Lagos and Lekki.
- The panel, chaired by Peter Aniekwe, said the petition relied on hearsay, Blueprint reported.
- The NMDPRA told the panel it would complete gas distribution licensing in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to ThisDay.
A House of Representatives panel has rejected a bid to strip NIPCO of its licences to distribute gas in parts of the south-west.
What happened
The petition came from a group called the Nigerian Energy Security Watch Group. It asked for NIPCO's gas distribution licences to be cancelled in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states and in the Lagos and Lekki free trade zones, ThisDay reported.
A subcommittee chaired by Peter Aniekwe, who chairs the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), dismissed it on Thursday. The panel found the petition was based on hearsay, Blueprint reported. "The petition is accordingly dismissed," the panel said.
The regulator's promise
At the same hearing, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority committed to completing and rolling out gas distribution licensing in the fourth quarter of 2026, ThisDay reported. The House said it would monitor that. Aniekwe said gas "remains critical to Nigeria's energy security."
Only ThisDay reported the regulator's timetable. Neither report carried a response from the petitioners after the ruling.
Why it matters
Gas distribution licences decide who may lay and run the local pipes that bring gas to factories and, in time, to homes and filling stations. Clear licences encourage companies to invest in those pipes. Disputes over who holds which area slow that down.
What it means for you
Most homes buy cooking gas in cylinders, not through pipes, so nothing changes for you today. Over time, more local pipelines could mean cheaper gas for factories and power plants, and more CNG stations. A licensing round finished on schedule would be a sign that piped gas is moving forward. Is cooking gas running short?
Words to know
- Gas distribution licence
- Permission to run the local pipes that carry gas to factories, power plants and homes in a defined area.
- NMDPRA
- The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which licenses gas pipelines and fuel depots.
Sources
- ThisDay: Reps subcommittee dismisses petition seeking cancellation of NIPCO's gas distribution licences (5 Nov 2026)
- Blueprint: Reps panel dismisses petition against NIPCO (5 Nov 2026)
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