The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has warned that NAFDAC’s renewed ban on sachet and small bottle alcoholic drinks threatens over five million jobs.
The chamber said that the ban also puts N800 billion investments at risk.
Chief Emeka Obegolu, President of ACCI, said this while reacting to the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles.
Chief Emeka Obegolu, President of ACCI
The reaction was contained in a statement issued by Mrs. Olayemi John-Mensah, the ACCI Media and Strategy Officer, on Friday, January 30, 2026, in Abuja.
Obegolu described the enforcement as economically disruptive and potentially damaging to investor’s confidence.
He said that, at this time, Nigeria required regulatory stability to sustain growth, protect livelihoods, and attract investment.
The Director-General of the NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, recently, banned the products, warning that easy access to them is turning Nigerian children into addicts.
According to Obegolu, while ACCI fully supports public health objectives, including the protection of minors and the promotion of responsible consumption, the current approach to enforcement is abrupt and raises concerns of regulatory inconsistency.
“The renewed enforcement contradicts existing government directives and legislative resolutions, including the directive issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on December 15, 2025.
“The directive suspended the ban, as well as the resolution of the House of Representatives of March 14, 2024, calling for restraint and broader stakeholder consultation.”
He recalled that, in December 2018, NAFDAC, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with manufacturers on the issue.
He said that the MoU was to gradually phase out sachet and small-volume alcoholic beverages by January 31, 2024.
He said that the moratorium was later extended to December 2025 following sustained engagement with industry stakeholders.
“Despite these agreed transition timelines, the sudden enforcement has begun to disrupt legitimate businesses across the manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and retail value chains.
“The development has also unsettled existing investments and exposed millions of workers to potential job losses,” he said.
Obegolu said that an outright ban, without adequate transition measures, may inadvertently encourage proliferation of illicit and unregulated alcohol products, thereby undermining both public health goals and government revenue.
He said that effective regulation should focus on control, compliance, and enforcement, rather than outright prohibition.
“ACCI is calling for a further extension of the implementation deadline to December 2026, to allow manufacturers complete ongoing transition processes, restructure operations, and exhaust existing inventories without unnecessary economic shocks,” he said.
He called for the establishment of a multi-stakeholder implementation committee, comprising regulatory agencies, policymakers, organised private sector groups, and industry representatives to ensure coordinated, transparent, and practical execution of the policy.
According to him, such an inclusive framework will help balance public health protection with economic sustainability, safeguard investments, preserve jobs, and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory environment.
Obegolu reaffirmed ACCI’s readiness to collaborate with NAFDAC, relevant ministries, the national assembly, and other stakeholders to achieve responsible regulation that protects consumers while sustaining enterprise growth and employment.
The multiplicity of environmental challenges confronting Nigeria – fueling socio-economic crises such as worsening insecurity, poverty and homelessness – demands urgent and holistic action by all stakeholders, with religious leaders playing a critical role.
This call was made on Friday, January 30, 2026, by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, while delivering the 24th Chief S. L. Edu Memorial Lecture in Lagos.
The annual lecture is a flagship initiative of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), supported by partners including Chevron, to raise public awareness on contemporary environmental concerns and promote practical solutions.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, delivering the 24th Chief S. L. Edu Memorial Lecture in Lagos
Speaking on the theme, “To Have and to Hold: Faith and Care of the Environment,” Bishop Kukah said the earth was entrusted to humanity by God for safekeeping, not for destruction through pollution and reckless exploitation.
He lamented Nigeria’s weak environmental culture, which he said has encouraged abuse of nature and unrestrained exploitation of resources without regard for preservation.
Kukah also criticised poor enforcement of environmental laws and accused some foreign interests of prioritising resource extraction in Africa with little concern for the environmental, health and socio-economic consequences.
In a lecture that drew sustained applause from the audience, the Bishop linked persistent conflicts in Africa to the exploitation of natural resources and warned against a system where a privileged few benefit while the majority suffer.
According to him, “The theme of this lecture is to speak to men and women of faith to understand that the earth – creation – has been given to us by God in custody and in trust. Protection and preservation of the environment are part of the mandate of our humanity because God made us co-creators with Him.”
He stressed that human existence, livelihoods and comfort depend on the environment, noting that reckless mining, oil drilling and other extractive activities contradict divine intent.
“Whatever God has given us was not meant for a particular class – politicians, businessmen or political parties. It has been given for the welfare of every citizen. Our responsibility is to distribute these resources equitably and efficiently so that no one in a richly endowed country like Nigeria goes to bed hungry,” he said.
Kukah added that environmental problems do not occur in isolation, describing unchecked mining without restitution as ecological injustice and a sin against future generations. He urged people to see themselves not as spectators in the environmental crisis, but as custodians with a moral obligation to protect ecosystems and livelihoods, especially in the face of flooding, desertification, climate change and species extinction.
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace Adewale Martins, who was the Special Guest of Honour, also underscored the urgency of decisive environmental action. He commended the NCF and the family of late Chief S. L. Edu for sustaining the lecture series.
“This is a time for us to be sorry for our cruelty against the earth and to change our ways. Care for the earth is not optional; it is mandatory,” Archbishop Martins said, noting that the Catholic Church has long prioritised environmental sustainability through dedicated groups and initiatives.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of the NCF National Executive Council (NEC), Justice Bukola Adebiyi, expressed delight at the large turnout and thanked the Guest Lecturer, Archbishop Martins, and other dignitaries for their presence.
Speaking on behalf of the NCF President, Chief Philip Asiodu, she said the theme was timely, given the scale of environmental challenges and the need for action – especially from faith communities.
Justice Adebiyi described the memorial lecture as a vital awareness tool and reminded the public that conservation is a shared responsibility, not the government’s alone.
She paid tribute to Late Chief S. L. Edu, founder of the NCF, and appreciated Chevron for sponsoring the lecture since inception and for supporting several other NCF programmes and projects.
The event, attended by NCF NEC members, students from secondary and tertiary institutions in Lagos, members of the Catholic Women Organisation, Muslim groups and other stakeholders, also featured the award of research grants to two PhD students – Arikpo Okoi Eteng and Ezekiel Temitayo Adedeji – as well as the presentation of a plaque to Bishop Kukah.
Stakeholders have called for urgent action to close methane accountability gaps, warning that unchecked emissions threaten lives, degrade the environment and undermine Nigeria’s climate commitments.
They made the call on Thursday, January 29, 2026, in Abuja at a closed-door stakeholder dialogue and documentary screening on human cost of methane emissions in the Niger-Delta region.
The event was convened by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
Human emissions of methane are second only to carbon dioxide in contributing to global warming
The Stakeholders blame unaccountable methane emission, a highly potent greenhouse gas for the loss of many livelihoods, poor agriculture yield food, pollution and rising poverty in the affected areas.
In the documentary, Niger-Delta communities report rising respiratory illnesses, degraded farmlands and declining fish stocks linked to prolonged exposure to gas flaring and methane leaks.
Mrs. Ayibakuro Warder, a women leader from Ikarama community, Okordia clan of Yenagoa LGA in Bayelsa State, said climate change driven by methane emissions had negatively affected their livelihoods, particularly farming.
She said their farms barely produced enough to feed their families, while fishing, another primary source of livelihood, had suffered as gas flaring and methane emissions had polluted local waters, endangering fish.
“These are the only things we depend on at the village to train our children, to feed and to live on.
“We harvest very tiny tubers of cassava, which was not the case in the past,” she said.
The community leader said emissions had caused unfamiliar diseases, while the loss of livelihoods had fueled a rise in crime.
Similarly, Chief Zion Kientei, traditional leader of Lasukugbene in Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa, lamented that two indigenous oil companies in his community had not conducted a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) prior to commencing operations.
Chief Kientei, Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, emphasised that EIAs issued by the Federal Ministry of Environment were mandatory for major oil and gas projects to assess environmental and health risks before operations commenced.
He said that without EIAs, the companies lacked an environmental management plan for his community, putting residents at risk.
Earlier, the Country Manager of NGRI, Mrs. Tengi George-Ikoli, said stakeholders must take concerted action to reduce methane emissions, warning of their serious economic and health impacts.
George-Ikoli said the government should go beyond formulating regulatory policy to ensure enforcement, while urging increased collaboration amongst CSOs to promote adoption of best practices, amplify community voices alongside educating communities among others.
She stressed the importance of Nigeria establishing comprehensive emission monitoring systems before 2027 and urged oil and gas companies to disclose their methane emission data to OMP, NEITI and other relevant bodies.
According to her, the empowerment of regulatory bodies is crucial to enable them to monitor compliance by companies.
She urged companies to deploy technologies to capture methane before it escapes, stressing that as the main component of natural gas, it can be used to generate electricity, heat, or fuel for industries and households.
“What oil and gas-producing communities are experiencing reflects a gap between policy ambition and outcomes on the ground.
“Nigeria has taken important steps, but the lived reality in many communities shows that methane remains a daily health and livelihood challenge.
“The documentary released by Policy Alert and We The People, with support from NRGI, captures these realities and underscores the need to strengthen monitoring, enforcement and accountability across the sector,” she said.
Stakeholders in clean cooking, on Friday, January 30, 2026, held market fair and roadshow in Umuahia, Abia State, to demonstrate and sensitise residents to clean cooking technologies as part of the efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The city-wide event, organised by the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cooking, in collaboration with key stakeholders, ended at the Orie-Ugba Market, Umuahia.
During the demonstration, clean cooking vendors set up exhibition stands, displaying different stove types suitable for different household needs.
Biofuel clean cooking stove
The demonstrations showcased the efficiency, cleanliness, safety, and ease of using stoves.
It also provided a platform for an interface with market women and traders on how best the stoves could be utilised to achieve clean cooking.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, who led the show, said that the essence was to increase public awareness on the dangers associated with traditional cooking methods and the urgent need for cleaner alternatives.
Ogbonna explained that clean cooking technologies are safer, healthier, and more affordable.
Ogbonna emphasised that traditional cooking methods often consume more household finances than people realise.
He said: “People need to be aware that the way they cook is not healthy for them.
“Clean cooking technologies reduce financial burden, are safe, good, and affordable.
“What many people did not know is that traditional cooking methods are actually draining their finances.”
A representative of Roshan Renewables, Ms. Precious Ikea, further said that although clean cooking stoves may require an upfront cost, they are significantly cheaper in the long run.
Ikea reiterated that the stoves are cheaper compared to the health expenses and environmental damage associated with traditional cooking methods, such as firewood and charcoal.
“The stoves are smokeless, environmentally-friendly, and affordable.
“They require fewer charcoal briquettes, are easy to operate, and pose no health risks to users,” he said.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reaffirmed its capacity to supply fuel volumes significantly more than Nigeria’s estimated domestic consumption.
The refinery said it can supply 75 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily against an estimated national consumption of 50 million litres, alongside 25 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) compared with an estimated daily demand of 14 million litres. It also has the capacity to supply 20 million litres of aviation fuel daily, far above the estimated maximum domestic consumption of four million litres.
According to the refinery, the availability of volumes above prevailing demand provides critical supply buffers, enhances market stability and reduces reliance on imports, particularly during periods of peak demand or logistical disruption.
Dangote Refinery
“The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery would like to reiterate our capability to supply the underlisted petroleum products of the highest international quality standard to marketers and stakeholders,” the company said in a public notice, offering 75 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 25 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 20 million litres of aviation fuel daily.
Industry analysts note that supplying above estimated consumption reduces the need for emergency imports, strengthens inventory cover and enhances the resilience of the domestic supply chain.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery also reaffirmed its commitment to full regulatory compliance and continued cooperation with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), stating that its supply approach is aligned with ongoing efforts to ensure market stability and orderly downstream operations.
The refinery said it remains fully engaged with regulators and industry stakeholders in support of Nigeria’s national energy security objectives, as the country deepens its transition from fuel import dependence to domestic refining.
It added that it continues to work closely with market participants to ensure that the benefits of local refining, including reliable supply, competitive pricing and improved market discipline are delivered consistently to consumers nationwide.
With domestic refining capacity expanding, stakeholders believe Nigeria is increasingly positioned to reduce foreign exchange exposure, improve supply security and strengthen downstream efficiency through locally refined petroleum products.
Africa is home to an estimated 160 million adolescent girls aged 10 to 19. They embody the energy, creativity and potential of the continent. It is undeniable that the “Africa we want”, as envisioned in the African Union’s Agenda 2063, cannot be achieved without the full participation of this group, which represents an essential component of the continent’s current and future workforce.
However, one of the most persistent obstacles to achieving this vision is the prevalence of child marriage and its negative impact on the productive capacities of children in Africa. Child marriage is among the most underestimated structural constraints that hinder the African continent’s ability to harness its demographic dividend.
Child marriage
Africa’s daughters are still being left behind
The statistics paint a worrying picture. According to the World Bank, in Africa (excluding North Africa), four out of 10 between the ages of 15 and 19 are neither in school, nor employed, nor married, nor mothers, compared to just over one in 10 boys. On average, nearly one-third (32%) of young women (15-24 years old) are not employed, are not pursuing any education, are not in any (NEETs), compared with 23% of boys in the same age group.
In Africa, 130 million women and girls were married before their 18th birthday, the highest rate to the world (UNICEF, 2025). The prevalence of child marriage varies across the continent. Central and West Africa bear a disproportionate share of this problem. But even North Africa, which has the lowest rate, although still significant, shows that this odious practice persists throughout the continent. In addition, nine of the 10 countries with the highest incidence of child marriage are in Africa.
The economic costs are considerable.
Child marriage is most often presented as a human rights violation or a social and health problem. and indeed, complications related to pregnancy and childbirth remain a major cause of death among adolescent girls. However, these tragic and most visible aspects are only part of the problem.
Less visibly, but child marriage is more common, associated with first pregnancies and effectively excludes girls from education and formal economic participation at a stage when investments in skills and learning are most cost-effective. In addition to limiting the future of individuals, this practice has major economic consequences for African countries and regions.
For Africa, as for some other developing countries, child marriage is a major economic distortion and unresolved. Child marriage distorts the accumulation of human capital and the distribution of labour, with major economic consequences for productivity and growth. Specifically:
Child marriage interrupts schooling, limits skills acquisition and hinders women’s participation in the labour market formal;
Girls who are married young are much more likely to work in unpaid care work or to end up in activities informal sectors with low productivity, with limited prospects for upward mobility.
Child marriage limits girls’ full integration into society by depriving them of their rights, identity and capacity to act. It creates dependency and hinders their leadership potential.
The consequences for African labour markets are particularly severe. Productive structural transformation requires a workforce that can move from low-productivity activities to higher value-added sectors, including manufacturing, modern services and the digital economy. When schooling and skills acquisition girls are interrupted, the supply of skilled labour for these sectors decreases. As a result, the incentives for entrepreneurs to create and develop productive enterprises are reduced. At the macroeconomic level, growth productivity, job creation in the formal sector and diversification into high value-added activities are reduced.
The economic costs of child marriage are passed on from generation to generation. This practice is closely linked to early and high fertility, increased maternal morbidity and mortality, and lower educational and health outcomes for children. If no action is taken, these social consequences lead to a decrease in of the human capital (education and health) of the next generation, thus reducing labour productivity and innovation. Ultimately, they are a persistent obstacle to fiscal sustainability, regional integration and growth inclusive.
These dynamics undermine Africa’s chances of reaping the benefits of its demographic dividend. While population growth While the continent’s active population is seen as a potential source of accelerated growth, provided adequate investment in health, education and job creation, child marriage is aggravated by the reduction in female employment in the formal sector. As a result, productivity gains are below potential, and risks related to demographic opportunities are turning into a major demographic crisis.
Despite its negative macroeconomic implications, child marriage is not taken into account in frameworks and discussions that underpin macroeconomic planning and policies in Africa. It is usually addressed through social or legal interventions, while macroeconomic strategies, industrial policies and tax frameworks are considered as if these human capital constraints were exogenous. This lack of communication leads to systematic underinvestment in one of the main impediments to Africa’s productivity.
Policymakers and the population at large need to rethink the issue of child marriage.
From an economic perspective, the case for investing in girls is compelling. The analyses show systematically that investments in girls’ education and health generate high returns on investment, increasing their lifetime earnings and boosting productivity. Closing the gender gap education, employment and decision-making could add up to US$1 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2043. Estimates also suggest that every US dollar invested in the health, education and empowerment of adolescent girls can generate significant economic returns over time.
Turning evidence into effective policy will require a shift in approach: eliminating marriage The development of children must be considered as a central element of Africa’s economic strategy. Indicators related to education, employment and the burden of unpaid care work of adolescent girls must therefore be fully integrated into macroeconomic frameworks. labour market projections and productive capacity assessments.
In this context, addressing the problem of child marriage in Africa is an economic necessity, as the success of the continent’s transformation depends on full mobilisation the productive potential of its population. This requires sustained investment in girls, as economic actors and not simply as beneficiaries of social programs.
Africa needs to finance the future of its daughters, and measures such as strengthening domestic resource mobilisation, Gender-responsive budgeting and positive social and environmental impact bonds could make a significant contribution to this. In addition, policymakers should consider public spending to reduce child marriage and support the continuation of girls’ education as investment expenditure and not as simple social expenditure. This would align fiscal frameworks with long-term growth objectives.
Eliminating child marriage alone will not guarantee that Africa will achieve its development goals. However, if this trend is not taken into account, this structural barrier will continue to hamper productivity, competitiveness and the implementation of Agenda 2063.
Recognise that ending child marriage is as much an economic imperative as it is a would constitute an important step forward. It would also put girls’ empowerment where it belongs: at the heart of the continent’s development strategy and its quest for inclusive and sustainable growth.
By Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of the Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division, and Omolola Mary Lipede, Associate Researcher
The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) not to be intimidated by the alcohol and beverage industry’s blackmail tactics as it presses ahead with enforcing the ban on the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET bottles, and glass bottles of 200ml or less.
The enforcement exercise, which began on January 22, 2026, is the culmination of more than two years of back and forth between NAFDAC and the alcohol industry over the implementation.
The Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers, and Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria had signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health and NAFDAC in December 2018 to phase out production of alcohol in sachet and PET bottles less than 200 ml by January 31, 2024.
Alcoholic drinks in sachets and small volume bottles
At the expiration of the deadline a further extension was given to enable members to adequately prepare for the ban.
The Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB), which claimed that the ban has disrupted operations of many of its members in different parts of the country, has criticised the policy. There has also been pushback from the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), both of which also hinged their arguments on job losses.
NAFDAC has however insisted that there is no going back on the policy, insisting that its decision was informed by health risks for children whose physiological systems are exposed to alcohol early and the damage it causes.
RDI Executive Director, Philip Jakpor, said: We must commend NAFDAC for this bold life-saving action. The enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol is long overdue, and it is a step in the right direction. NAFDAC must remain undeterred by the usual rhetoric of the beverage and alcohol industry whose line of argument is usually about imaginary job losses because of their prioritization of profits over health.
“We have said it time and again that alcohol harm is a major but under-addressed driver of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions. Not only adults: Children are victims of this menace and science has proven it.”
While dismissing the beverage and alcohol industry arguments, Jakpor pointed out that it is a known and well documented fact that the industry and their front groups deliberately stand in the way of any form of regulation.
He cited the Movendi International 2025 Big Alcohol Exposed Report which documented 1,300 cases and 77 independent studies of the alcohol industry’s global system of interference that obstructs evidence-based alcohol policy despite strong public support.
“The sustained effort by alcohol lobby in Nigeria to kill and bury the enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban through a potential job loss claim is a clear testament that reinforces a statement in the Big Alcohol Exposed Report that the alcohol industry operates through concrete policy arenas, institutional arrangements, and political moments, adapting to local contexts while following a deliberate and recognisable global strategy.”
While urging NAFDAC to stand firm in the face of the gathering storm, he said that the new policy is epochal and would be a shining example to other African countries that are also entangled in the industry’s web of lies to sustain their grip on consumers including innocent children.
“We use this medium to commend NAFDAC and its director-general, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, for placing the wellness of Nigerian citizens far and above profit motives. Nigerians fully support this action. The false narrative and twisted rhetoric of the alcohol industry to continue business as usual will fail this time,” he insisted.
Shelley Estcourt, CEO of Africa for leading carbon project developer, TASC, has been named Carbon Project Development CEO of the Year at CEO Monthly’s Female CEO of the Year Awards 2025.
The accolade recognises her leadership in scaling high-integrity carbon projects across the continent at a time when demand for credible African-generated credits is rapidly increasing.
Under Shelley’s leadership, TASC is said to have expanded its portfolio of clean cookstove, grassland restoration and other nature-based solutions, helping position Africa as one of the world’s most promising regions for transparent, socially impactful carbon projects.
Shelley Estcourt, CEO of TASC Africa
With Article 6 frameworks now taking greater shape and confidence returning to the voluntary carbon market, Shelley has been a strong advocate for Africa’s ability to supply high-quality credits that deliver real climate outcomes while transforming local communities.
Of the accolade, Shelley Estcourt said: “This award arrives at a critical juncture for African carbon markets. It reflects not just my work, but the dedication of our team across South Africa and the wider continent who are committed to delivering high-impact, high-integrity climate solutions. With clearer Article 6 pathways and growing awareness of the co-benefits that credible carbon projects can create – from cleaner air to women’s economic participation – our continent is entering a pivotal moment. I’m confident that 2026 will be a breakthrough year for African carbon markets.”
Nick Marshall, CEO and Co-Founder of TASC, added: “Shelley has led our South African business from strength to strength. Her drive, integrity and deep understanding of both community needs, and investor expectations have been pivotal to TASC becoming the largest carbon project developer in South Africa. We’re incredibly proud of her achievements and excited for what her leadership means as we head into 2026, a year that promises enormous progress for high-quality African carbon projects.”
TASC says it works across the continent to identify, structure and scale commercially viable carbon projects that deliver measurable climate impact, durable co-benefits and long-term value for African partners and communities.
At a time when the climate crisis has never been more urgent, the French Senate on Thursday, January 29, 2026, adopted a bill to revive oil and gas extraction in French overseas territories, in an unprecedented move to dismantle a cornerstone of French climate policy.
The proposal tramples on the legacy of the landmark 2017 Hulot Law, which prohibits the granting of new licenses for the exploration of oil and gas and mandates a complete end to all oil and gas extraction on French soil, including overseas territories, by 2040.
Emmanuel Macron, President of France
At odds with scientific evidence and the opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States with regard to climate change, the decision has been described as an insult to frontline communities who bear the brunt of climate impacts. At a time when every tenth of a degree counts, the bill severely undermines the credibility of France’s climate leadership.
Fanny Petitbon, 350.org France Country Manager, said: “France is shattering its international credibility. By opening French overseas territories to oil drilling, the Senate is effectively tearing up the Paris Agreement. This isn’t sovereignty, it is a betrayal of the country’s climate diplomacy and its own people. The claim that oil and gas extraction ensures energy sovereignty is a cynical lie that rings hollow for frontline communities, where rising seas and devastating cyclones demonstrate the true cost of fossil fuels. Instead of sacrificing these territories, French decision-makers must tax the windfall profits of fossil fuel giants and accelerate the shift to renewables for its energy needs.
“While the Government’s late opposition to this legislative proposal remains necessary, the National Assembly must now hold the line. France cannot pretend to be a climate champion while subsidising destruction at home. It is time to end the era of fossil fuels, not to entrench it further by ignoring the dignity of those on the frontlines.”
As part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s gas sector as the engine room of national industrialisation, energy security, and sustainable economic growth, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has officially unveiled its Gas Master Plan (GMP) 2026, tagged NGMP 2026.
The unveiling, held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Friday, January 30, 2026, marks a strategic inflection point in Nigeria’s energy transition journey, underscoring government’s resolve to translate the nation’s vast gas endowment into tangible economic value, infrastructure expansion, and global competitiveness, in alignment with its long-term development aspirations.
L-R: Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye; Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and MD of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Patience Oyekunle; Board Chairman, NNPC Ltd, Engr. Ahmadu Musa-Kida; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo; GCEO NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari and Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) and CEO of Aradel Holdings, Mr. Adegbite Falade during the Official Launch of the NNPC Gas Master Plan 2026 in Abuja, on Friday
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), 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.”
Ekpo 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 Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the NNPC Gas Master Plan 2026 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.
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 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 Ltd GCEO 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.
In a goodwill message at the occasion, the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers’ Group (IPPG) and CEO of Aradel Holdings, Mr. Adegbite Falade, said: “This is giving a shot in the arm to the economy which will bridge the gap between intent and reality. Gas thrives on value chain, from upstream to offtakers. As IPPG members, we reiterate our commitment and support to this initiative.”
Also lending his voice to the initiative, the Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and MD of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, thanked the NNPC Ltd for the ambition behind the NNPC GMP, stressing that his organisation supports the core operating principles of the Plan.
The Gas Master Plan 2026 is expected to serve as the definitive framework for coordinated gas sector development, execution discipline, and value creation over the next decade.
The Gas Master Plan 2026 is an offshoot of the Nigerian Gas Master Plan (NGMP) 2008, which is a strategic framework aimed at maximizing the economic benefits from the country’s abundant gas resources. Another significant dimension to the NGMP 2026 is the utmost attention to full alignment with the Nigerian Decade of Gas Programme.
