The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has launched its Gas Master Plan 2026, outlining a strategy to raise national gas production to 10 billion cubic feet per day as part of efforts to deepen industrialisation and improve energy security. The plan was unveiled on Friday at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, the company said in a statement.
According to NNPC Ltd, the roadmap reflects a renewed focus on execution in Nigeria’s gas sector, following years in which policy frameworks outpaced delivery. The company said the plan is designed to translate the country’s abundant gas resources into measurable economic value through infrastructure development, market expansion and improved commercial coordination.
From policy to delivery
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the Gas Master Plan 2026 signals a strategic shift from policy formulation to implementation across the gas value chain.
Ekpo described Nigeria as a gas-rich country whose key challenge has been the effective monetisation of its reserves rather than resource availability.
“Today’s launch represents a move towards a more integrated, commercially driven and execution-focused gas sector that aligns with Nigeria’s development priorities,” he said.
Investment and production targets
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Ojulari, said the plan is structured to support the Federal Government’s gas production targets while improving investor confidence.
Ojulari said the roadmap aims to increase gas output 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.
He added that the plan emphasises cost optimisation, operational efficiency and systematic resource development.
Industry response
Stakeholders at the event welcomed the initiative, describing it as a practical framework for aligning policy objectives with commercial execution.
The Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers’ Group, Adegbite Falade, said the plan could help narrow the gap between policy intent and on-the-ground delivery, while the Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section, Matthieu Bouyer, commended NNPC Ltd for the scale of its ambition.
Nigeria holds an estimated 210 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, with upside potential of up to 600 trillion cubic feet, making it one of Africa’s largest gas resource holders.
However, progress in domestic gas utilisation and export expansion has been constrained by infrastructure deficits, pricing challenges and regulatory uncertainty.
NNPC Ltd said the Gas Master Plan 2026 was developed using a collaborative, investor-focused approach, with alignment across operators, partners and financiers. Key priority areas include gas supply to power generation, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, mini-LNG projects and industrial offtakers.
Why it matters
The launch of the Gas Master Plan 2026 comes amid broader reforms in Nigeria’s energy sector, including the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act and the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas Initiative.
Analysts say a clearer focus on execution and commercial viability will be critical to improving gas market efficiency, attracting long-term investment and supporting Nigeria’s energy transition objectives.
