Abuja: The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to positioning natural gas as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic growth, energy security, and social development. Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), made this known when the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) officially unveiled its Gas Master Plan (GMP) 2026 and initiatives.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, a major highlight of the plan is its emphasis on domestic gas utilization, particularly through the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cylinder Supply Expansion Initiative, which aims to scale clean cooking access nationwide. The GMP unveiling featured the signing of some agreements and unveiling of a 20 million LPG cylinder supply initiative by 2030. It also included the NNPC-LPG and cylinder supply expansion initiative and execution of a consortium agreement by the LPG supply consortium.
The initiative supports the government’s target of achieving five million tonnes of domestic LPG consumption annually by 2030, with expected benefits including improved household welfare, reduced deforestation, and better public health outcomes. According to the Minister, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has set ambitious production targets of 10 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day (bscfd) by 2027 and 12 bscfd by 2030. Ekpo stated that achieving these goals would depend on infrastructure delivery, commercial alignment, and disciplined implementation.
‘The NNPC Gas Master Plan provides a credible framework to translate national ambition into measurable outcomes. The document moves beyond policy statements to focus on delivery. The Master Plan is fully aligned with the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas Initiative and the President’s ‘From Gas to Prosperity: Renewed Hope Agenda.’ While the Decade of Gas defines the national policy direction, the NNPC Gas Master Plan serves as the execution architecture of the National Energy Company,’ the Minister said.
He further emphasized that gas development was fundamentally a partnership-driven effort, involving government policy direction, NNPC Ltd.’s execution leadership, and private sector investment, innovation, and global best practices. Ekpo noted that the unveiling is not about announcing figures or restating ambitions but about ensuring that Nigeria’s gas resources deliver reliable power, thriving industries, clean cooking solutions, jobs, and an improved quality of life for Nigerians. Success would be measured by the tangible impact of gas development on households, businesses, and communities across the country. ‘Expect disciplined execution, strengthened partnerships, and clear accountability in implementing the master plan,’ he added.