NINigeria has taken a decisive step towards transforming its vast natural gas reserves into economic prosperity with the unveiling of the Gas Master Plan 2026 at NNPC Towers in Abuja on Friday.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, presented the strategic framework, which aims to position Nigeria as a globally competitive gas hub whilst addressing decades of underutilisation of the country’s hydrocarbon wealth.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, emphasised that the initiative marked a fundamental shift in approach. “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,” he said.
“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.”
The minister stressed that the plan aligns with the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas Initiative, positioning natural gas as the backbone of Nigeria’s energy security, industrialisation, and just energy transition.
Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, NNPC Ltd’s Group Chief Executive Officer, described the Gas Master Plan 2026 as an “execution-anchored roadmap” designed to unlock the country’s immense gas potential. Nigeria currently holds approximately 210 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven gas reserves, with potential reserves estimated at 600 Tcf.
The plan sets ambitious targets: increasing national gas production to 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030. It also aims to catalyse over $60 billion in new investments across the oil and gas value chain by the end of the decade.
“The plan is structured not just to deliver—but to exceed—the Presidential mandate,” Ojulari said, adding that NNPC Ltd has adopted a more collaborative, investor-centric approach in developing the framework.
The strategy prioritises cost optimisation, operational excellence, and the systematic advancement of resources from 3P to bankable 2P reserves, whilst strengthening gas supply to power generation, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas Mini-LNG, and critical industrial off-takers.
The initiative has received strong endorsement from industry stakeholders. Mr. Adegbite Falade, Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers’ Group, IPPG, and CEO of Aradel Holdings, welcomed the plan as bridging “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,” Falade said.
Matthieu Bouyer, Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section and Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, also expressed support for the plan’s core operating principles, thanking NNPC Ltd for its ambition.
The Gas Master Plan 2026 builds upon the Nigerian Gas Master Plan of 2008 and is designed to serve as the definitive framework for coordinated gas sector development, execution discipline, and value creation over the next decade. It is fully aligned with the Nigerian Decade of Gas Programme, underscoring the government’s commitment to leveraging natural gas as a catalyst for national development and economic transformation.
The plan’s focus on supply reliability, infrastructure expansion, and domestic and export market flexibility represents a comprehensive approach to addressing Nigeria’s longstanding challenge of monetising its substantial gas endowment whilst meeting domestic energy needs and industrial requirements.
Crediblenewsng.com
