The Federal Government has charged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to ensure strict accountability in the execution of its Gas Master Plan, demanding that the plan translate into measurable outcomes that drive national development.
Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, made the call on Friday in Abuja at the official launch of the NNPC Limited Gas Master Plan 2026, stressing that the initiative must move beyond projections and commitments to tangible delivery.
He noted that the unveiling of the Gas Master Plan was not about announcing figures, but about ensuring that Nigeria’s vast gas resources are effectively harnessed to deliver reliable power supply, thriving industries, clean cooking solutions, job creation and an improved quality of life for citizens.
Ekpo described the NNPC Gas Master Plan as a guiding framework that would ensure that natural gas continues to serve as a practical instrument for national development, economic expansion and shared prosperity.
“The Federal Government expects disciplined execution, strengthened partnerships and clear accountability in delivering these outcomes,” he said. “Nigerians must see and experience the benefits of natural gas development.”
The Minister added that the master plan provides the execution architecture to achieve the government’s gas production targets of 10 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030, with strong emphasis on domestic utilisation.
He commended NNPC and its partners for producing what he described as a coherent and forward-looking plan, aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Decade of Gas Initiative and the From Gas to Prosperity: Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his remarks, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari, described the Gas Master Plan as a defining milestone in Nigeria’s natural gas journey, marking a clear transition “from fragmented intentions to an integrated gas system capable of supporting power generation, driving industrial growth and strengthening the nation’s long-term economic resilience.”
Ojulari added that the master plan would also serve as a critical accountability tool for NNPC, enabling the company to rigorously track its performance and delivery within clearly defined parameters, in line with the directive of the NNPC Board.
The Chairman of the NNPC Board, Ahmadu Kida, said that the Board, as custodian of the nation’s energy future, remains committed to building robust governance and performance frameworks that will ensure excellence, transparency and sustained value delivery in the execution of the Gas Master Plan.
The high point of the event was the official signing of the Gas Master Plan Statement of Commitment, the issuance of the Ministerial Statement, and the launch of the ₦20m LPG cylinder supply initiative by 2026.
