The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-level committee to develop a new strategic plan aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s oil and gas sector for sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
In a statement, the Head of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Chris Ugwuegbulam, said the move aligns with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021–2025, and the Nigeria Agenda 2050.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Vitalis Obi, described the initiative as a step toward strengthening institutional coordination, improving accountability, and ensuring measurable outcomes across the oil and gas value chain.
Dr. Obi noted that despite contributing about 6.4% to Nigeria’s GDP and over 85% of export earnings, the sector faces persistent challenges, including infrastructure decay, declining output averaging 1.45 million barrels per day against OPEC’s quota of 1.8 million barrels, and the pressures of global energy transition.
He explained that the new Strategic Plan will serve as an operational guide to reposition the Ministry and its agencies, including NNPCL, NUPRC, NMDPRA, PTDF, NNRA, NCDMB, and PTI, for better coordination and performance.
The plan will integrate key reforms under the PIA, define measurable performance indicators in gas monetization, domestic refining, energy transition, and fiscal optimization, and align with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on economic diversification, job creation, and energy access.
It will also focus on stabilizing upstream production, expanding midstream infrastructure, promoting transparency in the downstream market, deepening local content, and entrenching digital governance through real-time performance monitoring.Dr. Obi said the committee is expected to produce a Strategic Plan (2025–2030), a Petroleum Sector Road Map, and a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to guide policy execution and stakeholder engagement.
He urged members to demonstrate patriotism and diligence, describing the exercise as a “legacy initiative” that will strengthen policy implementation and position Nigeria as a competitive player in the global energy space.
The committee, chaired by Mr. Usman Abdulkadir, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, includes representatives from the Ministry and its key agencies to ensure inclusiveness and broad expertise.
Reporting by Gwamkat Gwamzhi