The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has unveiled its Gas Master Plan 2026 (NGMP 2026), a far-reaching strategic blueprint designed to reposition Nigeria’s gas sector as the primary engine of industrialisation, energy security and sustainable economic expansion.
The landmark unveiling ceremony, which took place at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Friday, January 30, 2026, marks a significant turning point in Nigeria’s energy transition journey and underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to translating the nation’s abundant gas resources into tangible economic value, expanded infrastructure and enhanced global competitiveness.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the initiative as a defining milestone in Nigeria’s development aspirations, stressing that the Plan signals a decisive shift from policy articulation to disciplined, commercially driven execution anchored on integrated sector coordination.
Ekpo noted that Nigeria’s long-standing challenge has not been the absence of gas resources, but the effective conversion of those resources into reliable supply, infrastructure value and measurable socio-economic outcomes for citizens. He added that the NGMP 2026 directly addresses this gap by strengthening supply reliability, infrastructure expansion, domestic and export market flexibility, and strategic partnerships.
According to the Minister, these pillars align seamlessly with the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas Initiative, positioning natural gas as the backbone of Nigeria’s energy security framework, industrial growth ambitions and its pursuit of a just and balanced energy transition.
In his address, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, characterised the Gas Master Plan 2026 as a bold, execution-focused roadmap engineered to unlock Nigeria’s immense gas potential and elevate the country into a globally competitive gas hub.
Ojulari disclosed that Nigeria currently holds approximately 210 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven gas reserves, with an upside potential estimated at 600 Tcf, placing the nation among the most significant hydrocarbon basins globally. He further stated that the Plan is reinforced by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Federal Government’s gas-centric energy transition strategy.
He revealed that NGMP 2026 is structured 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 in new investments across the oil and gas value chain within the same period.
Ojulari added that the Plan prioritises cost optimisation, operational excellence and the systematic advancement of gas resources from 3P classifications to bankable 2P reserves. It also seeks to strengthen gas supply to key sectors including power generation, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Mini-LNG projects and major industrial off-takers.
Reaffirming his personal commitment as Chief Sponsor of the initiative, the NNPC Ltd GCEO emphasised that the NGMP 2026 was developed through a collaborative, investor-centric framework with strong alignment to industry stakeholders, partners and private sector investors.
Industry leaders present at the event expressed strong support for the initiative. Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers’ Group (IPPG) and Chief Executive Officer of Aradel Holdings, Mr. Adegbite Falade, described the Plan as a major economic stimulus capable of bridging the long-standing gap between intent and execution within the gas value chain.
Similarly, Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, commended NNPC Ltd for the ambition and clarity behind the Gas Master Plan, reaffirming his organisation’s support for 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 sustained value creation over the next decade. It builds on the foundation of the Nigerian Gas Master Plan 2008 while introducing renewed alignment with the Nigerian Decade of Gas Programme and evolving global energy transition realities.
Mr. Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, officially endorsed the release of the Gas Master Plan 2026 details for online publication, affirming the company’s commitment to transparency, stakeholder engagement and public awareness of its strategic energy initiatives.
With NGMP 2026, analysts project a new era of structured investment inflows, enhanced domestic gas utilisation, export competitiveness and improved national energy reliability — firmly positioning natural gas as a critical driver of Nigeria’s economic transformation and industrial renaissance.
NNPC Ltd unveils Gas Master Plan 2026 to attract $60bn investments, boost energy security, expand gas infrastructure and accelerate Nigeria’s industrial and economic growth.
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