Sopuruchi Onwuka

Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) weekend officially unveiled its Gas Master Plan tagged NGMP 2026, saying the measure is part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s gas sector to drive national industrialization, guarantee energy security, and fire sustainable economic growth.

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Group Chief Communication Officer, Mr Andy Odeh, pointed at the event which was hosted at the NNPC Towers in Abuja as a strategic inflection point in Nigeria’s energy transition journey, adding that the masterplan underscores government’s resolve to generate concrete economic value from gas.

The key goals of the gas masterplan, he counted, include infrastructure expansion and global competitiveness towards realization of the nation’s long-term development aspirations.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the Gas Master Plan as a deliberate pivot from policy articulation to disciplined execution, 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. 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. The Gas Master Plan speaks directly to this challenge.”

Hon. Ekpo further noted that the Plan’s strong focus on supply reliability, infrastructure expansion, domestic and export market flexibility, and strategic partnerships aligns seamlessly with the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas Initiative, positioning natural gas as the backbone of Nigeria’s energy security, industrialization, and just energy transition.

Oracle Intelligence reports that the event would be second time the NNPC Limited would lead the industry into development and implementation of a national gas masterplan, and the third time such plan would feature in the industry’s gas vision following the premier Agip Masterplan developed under the former Associated Gas Fiscal Arrangement (AGFA).

Nigerian Gas Masterplan earlier spearheaded by defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

While the Agip masterplan was specific to its former onshore operations in the Niger Delta, now acquired and operated by indigenous Oando Plc; the National Gas Masterplan (NGMP) laid the groundwork for development of national gas transmission lines currently under project stages.

In launching the latest masterplan, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the NNPC Gas Master Plan 2026 as a bold, effective execution-anchored roadmap designed to unlock Nigeria’s immense gas potential and elevate the country into a globally competitive gas hub.

Ojulari noted that with about 210 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven gas reserves and an upside potential of up to 600 Tcf, Nigeria possesses one of the most consequential hydrocarbon basins in the world; one reinforced by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Federal Government’s gas-centric energy transition agenda.

“The Plan is structured not just to deliver – but to exceed- 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 catalyzing over 60 billion dollars in new investments across the oil and gas value chain by 2030.”

He explained that the Plan prioritizes cost optimization, operational excellence, and systematic advancement of resources from 3P to bankable 2P reserves, while strengthening gas supply to power generation, CNG, LPG, Mini-LNG, and critical industrial off-takers.

Reaffirming his personal commitment as Chief Sponsor of the initiative, Ojulari stated that the NNPC Ltd has adopted a more collaborative, investor-centric approach in shaping the NGMP 2026, with strong alignment to industry stakeholders, partners, and investors.

In a goodwill message at the occasion, the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers’ Group (IPPG) and CEO of Aradel Holdings, Mr. Adegbite Falade, said: “This is giving a shot in the arm to the economy which will bridge the gap between intent and reality. Gas thrives on value chain, from upstream to offtakers. As IPPG members, we reiterate our commitment and support to this initiative.”

Also lending his voice to the initiative, the Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and MD of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, thanked the NNPC Ltd for the ambition behind the NNPC GMP, stressing that his organization supports the core operating principles of the Plan.

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.

The Gas Master Plan 2026 is an offshoot of the Nigerian Gas Master Plan (NGMP) 2008, which is a strategic framework aimed at maximizing the economic benefits from the country’s abundant gas resources. Another significant dimension to the NGMP 2026 is the utmost attention to full alignment with the Nigerian Decade of Gas Program.