Nigeria, Germany gas supply deal exposed

Gas supply deal purported signed between Nigerian and Germany, Wednesday, is fake, according to a Nigerian Twitter (now X) user, Mr. Mikael C. Bernard, who explained that the agreement did not involve the Nigerian and German governments, but a private firm operating in the country.

Nigerian media space was awash with reports emanating from the Presidency and further reported by the BBC Africa of a deal brokered between Nigeria and Germany and signed by President Bola Tinubu for the supply of gas by the government to Germany from 2026.

According to the report, Nigeria will supply more gas to Germany after the two countries signed a deal that will also include $500m in renewable energy investments in the West African nation.

The Presidency said the gas supply deal was signed at a business forum in Berlin between Riverside LNG project based in the Niger Delta and German company Johannes Schuetze Energy Import.

“The project will supply energy from Nigeria to Germany at 850,000 tonnes per annum, expanding to 1.2 million tonnes per annum,” said David Ige, a partner in the Nigerian project.

The first gas under the deal will be exported to Germany in 2026.

According to the Presidency, Union Bank of Nigeria and the DWS Group also signed a deal for the German firm to invest $500m in renewable energy projects in Nigeria.

The Presidency added that the deal was in furtherance of the pledge by the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of more investments in Nigeria’s critical minerals and energy sectors made during talks with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja in October.

However, according to Mr Bernard, writing via his X handle (@MikaelCBernard):

“The deal wasn’t between the Nigerian govt and the German govt. It was between Riverside LNG project based in the Niger Delta and German company Johannes Schuetze Energy Import.

“It wasn’t even a legally binding contract, it was just an MOU. The expected start date is even in 2026. There’s no proof that by 2026, Riverside LNG will be able to even meet up.

“Also, this news was broken by Ajuri Ngelielie (Ngelale) and not the German Company or the Nigerian company.

“I wonder why a Nigerian propagandist will be the source of information for a private business deal between two companies. Why didn’t the BBC try hearing from either the German end or Riverside LNG??

Continuing, the Twitter user said:

“If a madman went to Germany today, and claimed to have 850k tons of LNG, the German company sign an MOU with him.

“MOU is just them saying “anyday you bring the gas, we’d be happy to buy”.

“It’s now a question of; Does the madman has the capacity to deliver or not?

“In this case, according to Ajuri Ngelielie, they’d be able to deliver in 2026. How exactly they plan to do this, we don’t know.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s PR. If Riverside LNG had the gas to supply to Germany, they won’t be announcing an MOU, they’d be shipping the gas,” Bernard said.