Natural Gas Pricing Policy and Industrial Growth: Implications for Manufacturers in Ogun State

This study investigates the impact of Nigeria's natural gas pricing policy on industrial growth among manufacturing firms in Ogun State, South West Nigeria. As one of Nigeria's most industrialised states, Ogun hosts a significant concentration of energy-intensive factories that depend on reliable and affordable gas supply. Using a quantitative survey design, the research collects data from 60 manufacturing firm energy managers in the Agbara, Sagamu, and Mowe industrial clusters. The questionnaire focuses on production costs, gas supply reliability, and the adequacy of NMDPRA pricing regulation. Government-mandated gas pricing schedules, industrial tariff structures, and NMDPRA supply compliance records from 2021 to 2024 are reviewed as secondary data. Findings indicate that unpredictable gas pricing increases production costs for over 70 percent of surveyed firms, with some reverting to more expensive diesel alternatives. The study recommends a stable, indexed industrial gas tariff structure and formal supply reliability guarantees backed by regulatory sanctions. These findings are immediately relevant to energy economists, industrial policy makers, and petroleum law practitioners engaged in gas sector reform. Keywords: natural gas pricing, industrial growth, Ogun State, NMDPRA, manufacturing.