By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria has taken another decisive step towards positioning natural gas at the centre of its economic transformation with the official unveiling of the NNPC Gas Master Plan 2026, a comprehensive blueprint designed to unlock the country’s vast gas resources, attract massive investments, and drive industrialisation.
At the launch ceremony held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, the Chairman of the Board of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Ahmadu Musa Kida, issued a strong rallying call to local and international investors to seize the moment and partner with Nigeria in translating its enormous gas potential into tangible prosperity.
Describing the unveiling as “a landmark moment in the evolution of Nigeria’s energy future,” Kida reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to accelerating gas sector development, stressing that natural gas represents far more than an energy resource.
He described gas as “a catalyst for industrialisation, power stability, economic diversification, environmental responsibility, and positioning Nigeria as a global energy player,” noting that the new master plan provides a clear and structured pathway to deliver on the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative.
Kida disclosed that Nigeria currently holds about 210 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves, with upside potential of up to 600 Tcf, placing the country among the world’s most significant hydrocarbon basins. He explained that under the Gas Master Plan 2026, national gas production is projected to reach 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030, while attracting over 60 billion dollars in new investments across the oil and gas value chain.
Commending the NNPC management team led by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Kida praised their technical depth, professionalism, and national vision, describing the Gas Master Plan as further evidence of NNPC’s transformation into a commercially agile and forward-looking energy company.
Issuing a direct invitation to investors, the NNPC Board Chairman declared: “We issue a clear call today to investors to walk alongside us. Nigeria’s gas opportunity is vast, with an expanding demand market. Together, we can turn this blueprint into projects, industries, and shared prosperity.”
He added that the NNPC Board stands firmly behind the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make Nigeria Africa’s leading gas-powered economy and a respected player in the global energy landscape.
The event attracted strong endorsements from key government officials and industry leaders. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the Gas Master Plan 2026 as a critical shift from policy formulation to disciplined execution, while noting that it provides a practical framework for translating Nigeria’s gas aspirations into measurable outcomes.
In his remarks, the NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, said the plan represents a bold, execution-driven roadmap deliberately designed to exceed presidential targets and reposition Nigeria’s gas sector for sustained growth and global competitiveness.
Industry stakeholders also welcomed the initiative. Adegbite Falade of the Independent Petroleum Producers’ Group and Matthieu Bouyer, among others, described the plan as a timely boost to Nigeria’s economy and a crucial bridge between long-standing policy intent and on-the-ground reality.
The Gas Master Plan 2026 builds on the Nigerian Gas Master Plan of 2008 and aligns fully with the Decade of Gas Programme, establishing a coherent framework for coordinated gas development, infrastructure expansion, and value creation over the next decade.
With the unveiling of the new blueprint, Nigeria has signalled its determination to move from potential to performance, leveraging its vast gas endowment as a strategic engine for economic growth, industrial expansion, and sustainable national development.
