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Dangote Group, led by Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, has signed new gas supply agreements with subsidiaries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, a move aimed at keeping its refinery, fertiliser and cement plants running without disruption.
The agreements were signed in Abuja during the Nigeria Gas Master Plan 2026 event. Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dangote Fertiliser Plant and Dangote Cement Plc confirmed the deals on Monday.
The contracts were signed with Nigerian Gas Marketing Limited and NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company. Neither side said how much gas would be supplied under the agreements.
Gas is the lifeblood of Dangote Group’s operations. It powers the refinery, feeds the fertiliser plant and keeps cement production going across several locations. When supply is tight, output drops. When it is steady, costs fall and planning becomes easier.
That reality explains the timing of the deals. Dangote Refinery is ramping up production and looking beyond Nigeria’s borders. Executives have said exports to markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom depend as much on reliable energy as on access to ships and buyers.
The agreements also come as Nigeria tries, once again, to make gas work for the wider economy. Heavy industries are demanding more fuel, while officials see gas as the quickest way to support factories that already exist.
Last week, the federal government rolled out the Nigeria Gas Master Plan 2026. The plan lays out how authorities want to fix broken infrastructure, improve supply and draw investment into the sector.
Nigeria currently produces about eight billion cubic feet of gas per day. Officials say they want to push that to 10 billion cubic feet by 2027, with output rising to 12 billion cubic feet by 2030.
Government figures suggest meeting those targets could unlock more than 60 billion dollars in investment across the gas industry, using current exchange rates. Much of that money would go into pipelines and processing facilities that have struggled for years.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Gas Ekperikpe Ekpo said the focus has shifted from talking about reform to actually delivering gas to users. He said Nigeria has never lacked reserves, only dependable supply.
NNPC Limited Group Chief Executive Officer Bashir Bayo Ojulari said the strategy is meant to raise production and cut costs while ensuring large consumers get gas when they need it. He said a functioning gas market would also help Nigeria attract foreign capital.
Dangote Group officials say steady gas supply gives them room to plan. It allows the company to raise output, meet delivery schedules and compete on price in export markets.
Nigeria has Africa’s largest proven gas reserves, but factories have long struggled with unreliable supply. New gas deals between NNPC and major industrial players are expected to ease that pressure and help manufacturing regain momentum.
