The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has unveiled its Gas Master Plan 2026 (NGMP 2026), a comprehensive roadmap aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s gas sector as a catalyst for industrialisation, energy security, and sustainable economic growth.
The unveiling ceremony, held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Friday, January 30, 2026, marked a major milestone in Nigeria’s energy transition journey, reinforcing the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming the nation’s vast gas resources into tangible economic value and global competitiveness.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the Gas Master Plan as a decisive shift from policy formulation to disciplined execution, driven by commercial viability and integrated sector-wide coordination.
According to him, the Plan reflects Nigeria’s long-term development aspirations and addresses the longstanding challenge of translating the country’s abundant gas resources into reliable supply, functional infrastructure, and measurable economic outcomes.
“Nigeria is fundamentally a gas nation. Our challenge has never been potential, but translation. The Gas Master Plan speaks directly to this challenge by aligning supply reliability, infrastructure expansion, market flexibility, and strategic partnerships,” Ekpo said.
He added that the NGMP 2026 aligns with the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas Initiative, positioning natural gas as the backbone of Nigeria’s energy security, industrial growth, and just energy transition.
In his address, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the Gas Master Plan 2026 as a bold, execution-focused strategy designed to unlock Nigeria’s immense gas potential and elevate the country into a globally competitive gas hub.
Ojulari noted that Nigeria holds about 210 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven gas reserves, with an upside potential of up to 600 Tcf, making it one of the most significant hydrocarbon basins globally, supported by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the government’s gas-centric energy agenda.
He explained that the Plan targets exceeding the Presidential mandate of increasing national gas production to 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030, while attracting over $60 billion in new investments across the oil and gas value chain by 2030.
The GCEO further stated that the Plan prioritises cost optimisation, operational excellence, and the systematic advancement of gas resources from 3P to bankable 2P reserves, while strengthening gas supply to power generation, CNG, LPG, Mini-LNG, and key industrial off-takers.
Reaffirming his commitment as Chief Sponsor of the initiative, Ojulari said NNPC Ltd has adopted a collaborative and investor-centric approach in developing the NGMP 2026, working closely with industry stakeholders and partners.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers’ Group (IPPG) and Chief Executive Officer of Aradel Holdings, Mr. Adegbite Falade, described the Plan as a timely boost to the economy that would bridge the gap between policy intent and practical execution.
“Gas thrives on an integrated value chain from upstream to offtakers. As IPPG members, we reaffirm our support for this initiative,” Falade said.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Matthieu Bouyer, commended NNPC Ltd for the ambition behind the Gas Master Plan and pledged support for its core operating principles.
The Gas Master Plan 2026 is expected to serve as the definitive framework for coordinated gas sector development, execution discipline, and value creation over the next decade. It builds on the Nigerian Gas Master Plan of 2008 and aligns fully with the Nigerian Decade of Gas Programme.
