The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Friday unveiled its Gas Master Plan 2026, tagged NGMP 2026, in a renewed effort to reposition Nigeria’s gas sector as the foundation for industrialisation, energy security, and sustainable economic growth.
The unveiling ceremony occurred at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Friday. Industry stakeholders described the event as a strategic turning point in Nigeria’s energy transition journey.
The plan highlights the Federal Government’s determination to transform the country’s abundant natural gas resources into real economic benefits through expanded infrastructure, market growth, and enhanced global competitiveness.
In a statement by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, the company stated that the NGMP 2026 marks a transition from general policy goals to disciplined implementation throughout the gas value chain.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, spoke at the event. He described the plan as a deliberate pivot from policy articulation to implementation, anchored on commercial viability and integrated sector-wide coordination.
“Today’s launch is not merely the unveiling of a document; it represents a deliberate shift towards a more integrated, commercially driven and execution-focused gas sector aligned with Nigeria’s development aspirations,” Ekpo said.
He added, “Nigeria is fundamentally a gas nation. With one of the largest proven gas reserves in Africa, our challenge has never been potential, but translation, translating resources into reliable supply, infrastructure into value and policy into measurable outcomes for our economy and our people.”
According to the minister, the plan focuses on supply reliability, infrastructure expansion, flexibility in domestic and export markets, and strategic partnerships. This aligns fully with the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas Initiative, establishing natural gas as the foundation for Nigeria’s energy security, industrialisation efforts, and just energy transition.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Ojulari, addressed the gathering. He described the Gas Master Plan 2026 as a bold, execution-anchored roadmap designed to unlock Nigeria’s immense gas potential and position the country as a globally competitive gas hub.
He noted that Nigeria holds about 210 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, with upside potential reaching up to 600 Tcf, making it one of the world’s most significant hydrocarbon basins.
Ojulari said the plan was structured to not only meet but exceed the Presidential mandate of ramping up national gas production to 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030, while catalysing more than $60bn in new investments across the oil and gas value chain by the end of the decade.
“The NGMP 2026 prioritises cost optimisation, operational excellence and the systematic advancement of resources from 3P to bankable 2P reserves,” he said, adding that it also strengthens gas supply to power generation, CNG, LPG, Mini-LNG and key industrial off-takers.
Reaffirming his commitment as chief sponsor of the initiative, the NNPC boss emphasised that the company adopted a more collaborative and investor-centric approach in developing the plan, with strong alignment among industry stakeholders, partners, and investors.
Operators at the event welcomed the initiative. In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers’ Group and Chief Executive Officer of Aradel Holdings, Adegbite Falade, said the plan would provide a much-needed boost to the economy.
“This is giving a shot in the arm to the economy and will help bridge the gap between intent and reality. Gas thrives on a full value chain, from upstream to offtakers, and we reiterate our commitment to support this initiative,” he said.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section and Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, commended NNPC Ltd for the ambition behind the plan. He noted that TotalEnergies supports 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 represents an evolution of the Nigerian Gas Master Plan 2008, which aimed to maximise economic benefits from Nigeria’s abundant gas resources. The new plan has been updated to reflect current realities under the Petroleum Industry Act and the country’s gas-led energy transition agenda.
Another key feature of the NGMP 2026, according to NNPC Ltd, is its full alignment with the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas Programme. This reinforces Nigeria’s ambition to leverage gas as a bridge fuel for growth, industrial competitiveness, and long-term energy sustainability.
