The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited on Friday unveiled a recalibrated Gas Master Plan (NGMP 2026), signaling a renewed drive to unlock Nigeria’s vast gas potential and position the sector as a key engine for industrialisation, energy security, and economic growth.
Speaking on Friday at the Abuja launch, NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari reaffirmed the company’s commitment to exceed President Bola Tinubu’s target of producing 10 billion cubic feet of gas per day by 2027.
Ojulari described the updated plan as a “bold, execution-anchored roadmap” designed to transform Nigeria into a globally competitive gas hub.
With Nigeria holding an estimated 210 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven gas reserves and an upside potential of up to 600 Tcf, Ojulari emphasised the country’s unique hydrocarbon position, reinforced by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the federal government’s gas-centric energy transition strategy.
“The NGMP 2026 is structured not only to meet the Presidential mandate but to surpass it, targeting 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030 and catalyzing over $60 billion in investments across the oil and gas value chain,” Ojulari said.
He noted the plan prioritizes cost optimisation, operational efficiency, and converting 3P reserves to bankable 2P resources while expanding supply to power generation, CNG, LPG, Mini-LNG, and key industrial off-takers.
Ojulari stressed a more collaborative, investor-focused approach, with the plan aligned with stakeholders, industry partners, and private investors, aiming to serve as the “definitive framework for coordinated gas sector development over the next decade.”
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the plan as a shift from policy articulation to disciplined execution.
“Nigeria is fundamentally a gas nation. Our challenge has never been potential, but translation: converting resources into reliable supply, infrastructure into value, and policy into measurable outcomes,” Ekpo said.
He highlighted the plan’s focus on supply reliability, infrastructure expansion, and strategic partnerships within the framework of the federal government’s Decade of Gas Initiative.
Industry stakeholders welcomed the plan. Adegbite Falade, Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers’ Group (IPPG), called it a “shot in the arm” for the economy, stressing the importance of value-chain development from upstream to offtakers.
Matthieu Bouyer, MD of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, also expressed support, commending NNPC’s ambition and commitment to the plan’s operating principles.
The NGMP 2026 builds on the 2008 Gas Master Plan, reinforcing Nigeria’s strategy to fully leverage its gas resources for national development, global competitiveness, and a sustainable energy transition.
