As part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to optimise the benefits of the hydrocarbon resources industry for national development, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Friday launched its Gas Master Plan GMP 2026 in Abuja.
Tagged “NGMP 2026”, the launch of the plan a new phase in Nigeria’s energy transition initiative underscored the government’s commitment to translating the nation’s vast gas endowment into tangible economic benefits, infrastructure expansion, and global competitiveness, in alignment with its long-term development aspirations.
In his keynote address at the event, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the NGMP as a policy articulation to disciplined execution, anchored on commercial viability and integrated sector-wide coordination.
The minister said: “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.”
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Ekpo explained that the Plan’s strong focus on supply reliability, infrastructure expansion, domestic and export market flexibility, and strategic partnerships aligned with the government’s Decade of Gas Initiative, which prioritized natural gas as the backbone of Nigeria’s energy security, industrialisation, and just energy transition.
Speaking at the forum, NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, described the plan as a bold, effective execution-anchored roadmap aimed at exploring Nigeria’s immense gas potential and producing them to position the nation into a competitive front in the global gas market.
According to him, 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 globally.
Ojulari said: “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 catalysing over 60 billion dollars in new investments across the oil and gas value chain by 2030.”
The industry expert maintained that the Plan by its design prioritized cost optimisation, 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.
To ensure the successful implementation of the plan, he disclosed that the company’s management had adopted a collaborative, investor-centric approach in shaping the NGMP 2026, with strong alignment to industry stakeholders, partners, and investors.
The Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers’ Group IPPG and CEO of Aradel Holdings, Mr. Adegbite Falade, in his goodwill message described the NMGP as “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 off-takers. As IPPG members, we reiterate our commitment and support to this initiative.”
The NGMP 2026 derives from the Nigerian Gas Master Plan NGMP 2008 and aligns with the Nigerian Decade of Gas Programme, which is a strategic framework aimed at maximising the economic benefits from the country’s abundant gas resources.
It is expected to serve as the definitive framework for coordinated gas sector development, execution discipline, and value creation over the next decade.
Photo Caption
L-R: Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye; Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and MD of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Patience Oyekunle; Board Chairman, NNPC Ltd, Engr. Ahmadu Musa-Kida; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo; GCEO NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bayo Ojulari and Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) and CEO of Aradel Holdings, Mr. Adegbite Falade, during the launch of the NNPCL Gas Master Plan 2026 on Friday in Abuja
