NNPC activates multiple pathways to transform Nigeria into global gas hub

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has reiterated its commitment to activating multiple pathways to transform Nigeria into a global gas hub.

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According to a statement issued by NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the company’s Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, disclosed this while speaking at the 2026 Gas Technology & Exhibition Conference (GASTECH) in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday.

Mr Ogunleye spoke during a panel session themed, “The New LNG Order: Leadership Strategies for Energy Security and Growth.”

He said Nigeria was leveraging its more than 215 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of proven gas reserves to drive domestic industrialisation and expand its export market as geopolitical tensions, conflicts and other factors continue to affect global energy supply and demand.

“Gas development and monetisation from Nigeria’s standpoint is a purely commercial play. NNPC Ltd. is implementing a Gas Master Plan (GMP) engineered as a gap-to-potential tool to move Nigeria from a 215tcf reserves position to above 600tcf,” Mr Ogunleye said.

Gas production targets

According to the statement, Mr Ogunleye said NNPC’s strategy is anchored on stronger coordination under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Decade of Gas Framework and the Gas Master Plan.

He said the near-term targets are to increase Nigeria’s national gas production to 10 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) by 2027 and 12 Bcf/d by 2030.

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In January, NNPC unveiled its Gas Master Plan (GMP) 2026, aimed at driving industrialisation and strengthening Nigeria’s energy security.

At the launch, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, said Nigeria had about 210 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven gas reserves, with an upside potential of up to 600 Tcf.

He described the resource base as one of the world’s most significant hydrocarbon endowments, saying its development was supported by the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the Federal Government’s gas-focused energy transition agenda.

Mr Ojulari said the plan was designed to exceed the presidential mandate of raising national gas production to 10 Bcf/d by 2027 and 12 Bcf/d by 2030.

According to him, the plan is expected to catalyse more than $60 billion in investments across the oil and gas value chain by 2030.

He said the plan prioritises cost optimisation, operational excellence and the systematic conversion of gas resources from 3P to bankable 2P reserves.

The plan also seeks to strengthen gas supply to power generation, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Mini-LNG and other critical industrial off-takers.

Mr Ojulari said NNPC adopted a collaborative and investor-centric approach in developing the GMP 2026, with input from industry stakeholders, partners and investors.

LNG expansion

At GASTECH, Mr Ogunleye said Nigeria was already a reliable global gas supplier and was pursuing a major expansion of its LNG capacity.

He cited the Nigeria LNG project’s Trains 1-6, which have a combined production capacity of 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and have exported more than 6,000 LNG cargoes since 1999.

He also cited Train 7, which is scheduled for completion in 2027, as part of the country’s ongoing LNG expansion.

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Mr Ogunleye said Nigeria’s geographical position, which gives it access to both the Atlantic Basin and Asian markets, further strengthens its position as a strategic global gas supplier.

He said this advantage, combined with the country’s substantial gas reserves and renewed national focus on gas development, provides a strong basis for expanding the industry.

According to him, domestic gas utilisation and exports are not mutually exclusive, as Nigeria is pursuing a dual pathway that uses exports to generate foreign exchange while expanding domestic gas use to create jobs, strengthen energy security and improve economic wellbeing.

Mr Ogunleye said Nigeria had also de-risked new LNG projects through a robust legal and regulatory framework backed by attractive fiscal incentives.

“With continued efforts towards stable security, competitive gas pricing and assured gas supply, there is no better time for investors and financiers to participate in the development of Nigeria’s LNG projects confidently,” he said.

GASTECH is a major global conference and exhibition focused on natural gas, LNG, hydrogen and low-carbon solutions.

The 54th edition brings together about 50,000 participants from more than 150 countries, including energy experts, chief executives, policymakers, investors and technology leaders, to discuss energy security, LNG supply, infrastructure investment and decarbonisation.