By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Three subsidiaries of Dangote Industries Limited have signed Gas Sales and Purchase Agreements (GSPA) with two business segments of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
The three firms of Dangote Industries Limited involved in the strategic gas supply deals are Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dangote Fertiliser Plant and Dangote Cement Plc, while the two belonging to the NNPC include the Nigerian Gas Marketing Limited and the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC).
It was gathered that the deals were signed at the unveiling of the NNPC Gas Master Plan (GMP) 2026 tagged NGMP 2026 at the NNPC Towers over the weekend in Abuja.
The gas supply agreements will help to drive the conglomerate’s Vision 2030, resulting in increased output, better and cleaner energy supply as well as support ongoing expansion projects.
A statement from Dangote Industries Limited disclosed that the chief executive of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Mr David Bird, signed for the refinery, while his counterpart at Dangote Cement, Mr Arvid Pathak, signed for the cement business, with Mr Mustapha Matawalle, putting pen to paper for Dangote Fertiliser FZE.
In his remarks, Mr Bird said that the agreement demonstrates the refinery’s bold steps to expand its capacity, noting that it marks a critical milestone in the expansion drive as well as a proactive measure to lock in vast energy requirements for the anticipated increase in its production capacity.
On his part, Mr Pathak point out that the deal guarantees the gas required to support the drive towards CNG adoption as Autogas and to meet the increasing gas demand as production capacities in Nigeria are expanded. It also promotes the adoption of cleaner fuel for both Autogas through CNG and gas to support increased production output, he added.
For Dangote Fertiliser FZE, it is anticipated the agreement will support the company’s fertiliser capacity expansion projects, given that fertiliser is a product of natural gas.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the Gas Master Plan as a deliberate pivot from policy articulation to disciplined execution, anchored on commercial viability and integrated sector-wide coordination.
“Today’s launch is not merely the unveiling of a document; it represents a deliberate shift towards a more integrated, commercially driven, and execution-focused gas sector, aligned with Nigeria’s development aspirations. Nigeria is fundamentally a gas Nation.
“With one of the largest proven gas reserves in Africa, our challenge has never been potential, but translation: translating resources into reliable supply, infrastructure into value, and policy into measurable outcomes for our economy and our people. The Gas Master Plan speaks directly to this challenge,” he stated.
The Minister further noted that the plan’s strong focus on supply reliability, infrastructure expansion, domestic and export market flexibility, and strategic partnerships aligns seamlessly with the federal government’s Decade of Gas Initiative, positioning natural gas as the backbone of Nigeria’s energy security, industrialisation, and just energy transition.
In his address, the chief executive of NNPC, Mr Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the plan as a bold, effective execution-anchored roadmap designed to unlock Nigeria’s immense gas potential and elevate the country into a globally competitive gas hub.
Mr Ojulari noted that with about 210 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven gas reserves and an upside potential of up to 600 Tcf, Nigeria possesses one of the most consequential hydrocarbon basins in the world; one reinforced by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the federal government’s gas-centric energy transition agenda.
“The plan is structured not just to deliver – but to exceed- the Presidential mandate of increasing national gas production to 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030, while catalysing over 60 billion dollars in new investments across the oil and gas value chain by 2030,” he said.
The NNPC chief explained that the plan prioritises cost optimisation, operational excellence, and systematic advancement of resources from 3P to bankable 2P reserves, while strengthening gas supply to power generation, CNG, LPG, Mini-LNG, and critical industrial off-takers.
Reaffirming his personal commitment as Chief Sponsor of the initiative, the NNPC boss stressed that the company has adopted a more collaborative, investor-centric approach in shaping the NGMP 2026, with strong alignment to industry stakeholders, partners, and investors.