President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed the $800 million Final Investment Decision (FID) by TotalEnergies and Nigerian independent oil and gas company AMNI International to develop the long-delayed Ima Gas Field, describing the project as evidence that reforms in Nigeria’s petroleum sector are beginning to attract fresh investment.
The FID, announced on September 23, 2026, covers the development of the Ima gas field, which straddles Nigeria’s OML 112 and OML 117 offshore licences in shallow waters near Bonny Island, Rivers State. The field was discovered in 1973 but remained undeveloped for more than five decades.
Under the development plan, TotalEnergies will operate the project with a 40 per cent interest, while AMNI International will hold the remaining 60 per cent. The field will be developed through a single platform linked by a 22-kilometre pipeline to the Nigeria LNG facilities on Bonny Island. Production is expected to begin in 2028.
TotalEnergies said the project is expected to reach a production plateau of approximately 350 million cubic feet of gas per day, equivalent to more than 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
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Once operational, Ima is expected to provide approximately one-third of the gas required for the ongoing Nigeria LNG Train 7 expansion, which is designed to increase NLNG’s liquefaction capacity from 22 million tonnes per annum to 30 million tonnes per annum.
Tinubu: Reforms Beginning to Deliver
President Tinubu said the investment demonstrates the impact of measures introduced by his administration to make Nigeria more competitive for oil and gas investment.
According to the President, the Federal Government has introduced incentives designed to unlock previously stranded onshore and shallow-water gas projects, while reducing the cost and time required to bring developments into production.
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“Today, we are seeing the result,” Tinubu said.
The President described the Ima development as an example of the administration’s objective of moving Nigeria’s natural resources from potential to actual production, while creating employment and economic opportunities.
He said the project would provide opportunities for Nigerian engineers, technicians and contractors and stimulate economic activity in host communities.
“Nigeria’s natural resources have value only when they are converted into opportunities for our people,” Tinubu said, according to the State House statement.
The State House said Nigerian financial institutions arranged 77 per cent of the project’s financing, while approximately 60 per cent of the workforce is expected to come from host communities, including Bonny, Finima and Andoni in Rivers State.
Strong Nigerian Content
The project is also expected to have a significant local-content component.
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TotalEnergies said all key contractors for the Ima development will be Nigerian companies, while about 60 per cent of the workforce during the development phase is expected to come from host communities.
The company described Ima as a low-cost, low-emissions development, featuring a simplified platform design, electricity supplied from shore, no routine flaring and permanent methane detection and monitoring.
The development is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s gas supply chain while supporting LNG exports and creating opportunities for domestic businesses.
Ekpo Commends Tinubu’s Reforms
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, also welcomed the FID, describing it as a major milestone for Nigeria’s gas sector and a demonstration of growing investor confidence in the country’s energy industry.
Ekpo said the policy reforms and Executive Orders approved by President Tinubu had helped improve the investment climate and accelerate project development in the oil and gas sector.
He said the Ima project represented more than an investment in gas production, arguing that its successful implementation could generate jobs, strengthen Nigerian content, facilitate skills and technology transfer and expand the domestic gas economy.
The minister also commended AMNI International and TotalEnergies for reaching the investment decision, describing the partnership between the Nigerian independent producer and the international energy company as an example of how indigenous and international expertise can be combined to develop Nigeria’s gas resources.
Another Boost for Nigeria LNG
The Ima FID follows the Ubeta gas project, for which TotalEnergies and its partners took FID in 2024. Ubeta is expected to begin production in 2027 and will also supply gas to Nigeria LNG.
TotalEnergies said the Ima project demonstrates that recently introduced Nigerian government incentives for non-associated gas developments can help unlock additional gas resources.
With Ima scheduled to begin production in 2028, the project is expected to become an important source of feedgas for Nigeria LNG’s expansion while supporting the country’s broader efforts to monetized its large natural gas reserves.
For the Federal Government, the project represents another step in its stated strategy of using natural gas to support industrialization, energy security, export earnings, job creation and economic growth.
Tinubu, meanwhile, signalled that further projects could follow, saying: “We have more to unlock.”
