In a significant move that aligns private sector expansion with national energy priorities, three subsidiaries of the Dangote Group have secured enhanced gas supply agreements with units of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, reinforcing Nigeria’s push to use natural gas as a driver of industrial growth and cleaner energy.
The agreements were announced in Abuja at the launch of Nigeria’s Gas Master Plan 2026. Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dangote Fertiliser Plant and Dangote Cement Plc signed the strengthened contracts with Nigerian Gas Marketing Limited and NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company. Although the specific supply volumes were not disclosed, the deals are intended to support the conglomerate’s large scale operations and future expansion plans across refining, manufacturing and cement production.
The contract signings coincided with the formal unveiling of the Gas Master Plan 2026, a comprehensive roadmap designed to transform Nigeria’s gas sector and unlock greater value from the country’s vast natural gas reserves. The plan sets out to increase national gas production from about 8 billion cubic feet per day to 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027, with a further rise to 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030.
A central pillar of the strategy is the attraction of more than 60 billion dollars in investment across the gas value chain, spanning upstream production, midstream transportation and processing, and downstream distribution and utilization. The plan also prioritises the expansion of critical infrastructure, improved reliability of supply and the use of gas as a foundation for economic diversification, industrialisation and power generation.
Government officials described the master plan as a shift from policy design to practical execution. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources for Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, said Nigeria’s challenge is no longer the availability of gas resources but the ability to translate those reserves into consistent supply and measurable economic benefits. He emphasised that dependable gas supply is essential for industries, power plants and fertiliser production.
NNPC Limited Group Chief Executive Officer Bashir Bayo Ojulari said the plan is aimed at optimising costs, attracting new investors and, critically, guaranteeing gas supply to strategic industrial users. He noted that partnerships with large domestic manufacturers such as the Dangote Group are central to achieving the plan’s objectives.
The simultaneous launch of the Gas Master Plan 2026 and the signing of long term gas supply agreements highlights a coordinated approach between government and industry. While the state focuses on policy, infrastructure and investment frameworks, major industrial players are securing the energy inputs needed to drive production, reduce emissions and support Nigeria’s broader clean energy and industrial ambitions.
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