A CALL FOR THE RENAMING OF THE ESCRAVOS–LAGOS PIPELINE SYSTEM TO THE UTOROGU–ESCRAVOS–LAGOS PIPELINE SYSTEM

-By Zik Gbemre

An Appeal To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, The Federal Government of Nigeria And the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)

Introduction

The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) are urged to review and rename the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) as the Utorogu–Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System (UELPS) to better reflect the geographical origins of the gas supplied through the pipeline system and recognise the host communities associated with this critical national infrastructure.

The current designation, Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System, does not expressly acknowledge the significant contribution of the Utorogu Gas Plant to Nigeria’s gas supply network. By identifying Escravos and Lagos alone, the name may create the impression that the pipeline system’s gas supply originates solely, or predominantly, from Escravos, without adequately recognising Utorogu, a major gas-producing facility situated in the heart of Urhobo land.

The proposed renaming seeks to address this omission by recognising Utorogu alongside Escravos and Lagos in the official designation of the pipeline system.

Utorogu’s Contribution To Nigeria’s Gas Supply Network

Gas from the Utorogu Gas Plant is delivered into the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System, which supplies gas to Lagos and Ogun States and supports other important gas transportation networks, including the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Pipeline and the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).

Utorogu is therefore an important part of the wider gas supply network. Its omission from the pipeline system’s name raises a legitimate question about whether the existing designation adequately reflects the geographical origins of the gas entering the network.

Including Utorogu in the name would provide greater recognition of its contribution and present a more geographically inclusive description of the infrastructure supporting Nigeria’s gas transportation and distribution network.

Utorogu Gas Plant And Its Urhobo Host Communities

The Utorogu Gas Plant facilities are located within Udu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas of Delta State, in the heart of Urhobo land. These facilities are strategically important to the country’s gas infrastructure and are situated within communities whose geographical identity deserves recognition in discussions concerning the system they supply.

Specifically, Utorogu NAG 1 is located across Udu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas, while Utorogu NAG 2 and Utorogu NAG 3 are located in Iwhrekan community, Ughelli South LGA.

The location of these facilities makes it necessary to recognise not only Utorogu as a gas-producing centre but also the host communities of Udu, Ughelli South and Iwhrekan. Their place in the country’s energy infrastructure should not be overlooked when considering the geographical designation of the pipeline system.

The Geographical Distinction: Escravos, Lagos And Utorogu

The geographical locations represented in the pipeline system’s existing name are significant. Escravos is located in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, an area associated with Itsekiri and Ijaw communities, while Lagos is a state in southwestern Nigeria and a major destination for the gas transported through the system. Utorogu, on the other hand, is situated in Udu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas, within the heart of Urhobo land.

This distinction is central to the call for renaming. The existing designation expressly identifies Escravos, associated with the Itsekiri and Ijaw area of Warri South West, and Lagos State, but does not identify Utorogu or the Urhobo host communities in which its gas facilities are located.

The concern is not that Escravos or Lagos should lose their place in the pipeline’s name. Rather, it is that the name should also acknowledge Utorogu, given its role in supplying gas into the system and the presence of major gas facilities in Urhobo communities.

The proposed name, Utorogu–Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System, would retain both existing geographical references while expressly adding Utorogu. It would provide a broader representation of the locations associated with the gas supply network and bring greater visibility to the Urhobo communities of Udu and Ughelli South, particularly Iwhrekan, where Utorogu NAG 2 and NAG 3 are located.

If Escravos and Lagos are considered important geographical references in the system’s name, there is a compelling basis for formally considering Utorogu as well. Such recognition would promote a more inclusive account of the locations and host communities associated with Nigeria’s strategic gas infrastructure.

A Question of Recognition, Fairness And Inclusion

The call for renaming is not merely about changing the name of a pipeline system. It is about ensuring that the designation of strategic national infrastructure adequately reflects the geographical realities of its gas supply sources and recognises the communities associated with the facilities.

The current name may unintentionally give greater visibility to Escravos and Lagos while leaving Utorogu and its Urhobo host communities unacknowledged in the official designation. A broader name would address this omission without diminishing the importance of Escravos, the Itsekiri and Ijaw communities of Warri South West, or Lagos State.

Recognising Utorogu would affirm that Nigeria’s gas infrastructure is supported by multiple locations and host communities, each of which has a place in the country’s energy story. It would also demonstrate a commitment to inclusive recognition and fairness in the naming of national assets.

Call To Action

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government of Nigeria and NNPCL are therefore urged to undertake a technical and administrative review of the existing designation and consider adopting Utorogu–Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System (UELPS) as the official name.

The review should consider Utorogu’s role in supplying gas to the wider network, the geographical relationship between Utorogu and Escravos, and the locations of the host communities associated with the facilities, particularly Udu, Ughelli South and Iwhrekan.

The proposed change would formally recognise Utorogu’s contribution to Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and give greater visibility to the Urhobo communities that host its facilities. It would also ensure that the pipelines system’s name reflects the geographical areas it connects and the communities that play a role in its operations.

Utorogu must not remain an overlooked part of the story of Nigeria’s gas infrastructure. Iwhrekan, Udu and Ughelli South deserve recognition in that story. The proposed renaming is a call for a more inclusive geographical designation that acknowledges Utorogu alongside Escravos and Lagos.

The time has come for the Federal Government and NNPCL to consider a broader and more representative designation: Utorogu–Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System (UELPS).

Zik Gbemre
October 23,2026

We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes