Nigeria is laying out a bold strategy to harness its vast natural gas reserves as a cornerstone for Africa’s energy transformation, industrial growth, and economic stability, according to Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd at the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026 in Abuja.
Addressing a cross-section of government officials, development partners, industry leaders, and international delegates—including Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima; H.E. Adama Barrow, President of The Gambia; and Mr. Domingo Mba Esono, representing H.E. Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea—at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Ojulari said Nigeria’s future is inseparable from its ability to deploy gas to tackle Africa’s persistent energy poverty while building competitive industrial capacity.
Nigeria and Africa more broadly face what Ojulari described as an “energy trilemma” — accessibility, affordability, and sustainability — with more than 600 million Africans still lacking access to electricity despite the continent’s resource wealth.
“Nigeria’s pathway to a prosperous future lies in our collective ability to leverage our resource abundance, especially as gas sits at the heart of our strategy,” Ojulari said. “It is our bridge to a cleaner future, our engine for industrialisation, and our foundation for export-led growth.”
He emphasised that Nigeria’s energy strategy is grounded in practical outcomes, from supporting homes and factories to powering agriculture, transport, and youth innovation.
Nigeria holds one of Africa’s largest hydrocarbon endowments, with about 37 billion barrels of crude oil and over 209 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves.
To unlock this potential, NNPC Ltd has rolled out a comprehensive Gas Master Plan and is advancing major gas infrastructure projects — including the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) pipeline, the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, and the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) expansion — which Ojulari described as “highways for economic opportunity.”
These initiatives align with a broader sector agenda that aims to expand gas production and utilisation nationwide, with external partners like Dangote refining agreements that support reliable gas supply to key industrial consumers.
Ojulari reinforced that gas is not merely a transition fuel but an enabler of tangible economic development. It underpins:
- Reliable power generation
- Fertiliser and petrochemical value chains
- Industrial clusters and manufacturing hubs
- Export-oriented gas products
This stance echoes federal government messaging at the summit that urged unity among public, private, and development stakeholders to ensure energy remains a catalyst for inclusive prosperity and regional stability.
Meanwhile, NNPC’s gas agenda aims to boost national gas output from around 8 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) to 10 bcf/d by 2027 and 12 bcf/d by 2030, with the broader plan expected to attract over $60 billion in fresh investment across the gas value chain.
Throughout his address, Ojulari maintained that Nigeria’s gas-led strategy must be just and inclusive, deliberately structured to lift communities out of poverty, support job creation, and integrate energy policy with broader social and economic development goals.
“Nigeria is ready to lead Africa’s charge toward an equitable, people-centred energy future,” he said, underscoring the need for partnerships that extend beyond traditional power models to embrace long-term sustainability and shared prosperity.
