Gas development ’ll drive Nigeria’s prosperity, reduce cost of living- Ekpo

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo has described the Federal Government’s firm determination to develop the nation’s gas resources as the surest path to economic prosperity. Ekpo, who spoke in Yenagoa when he visited the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) facilities and ongoing projects noted that the country is endowed with vast natural gas resources of about 209 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves and stressed the need to harness these resources effectively to drive economic development. The Minister, who is the co-chair of the NCDMB Governing Council reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s unalloyed support to the gas sector, with initiatives extending to the entire value chain, notably gas development, distribution and penetration. He said: “The Federal Government’s drive is aimed at reducing the cost of transportation, the cost of living and impact every part of the country positively. We want the living standard of our people to be bearable because with gas we can drive the economy of the nation. We are looking at a gas driven economy by the year 2030.

“Mr. President meant well for this nation to drive our economy through gas, which we have abundant supply.
It is time for us to go into the field and do the needful especially on the Compressed Natural Gas, CNG which is cleaner, safer and cheaper than Premium Motor Spirit, PMS. “Today people are talking about end bad governance because they are ignorant of what the President meant for this nation, if we have the opportunity to sit down and read out all the plans he has for Nigerians, we will know that this is the best President that we have ever had. Within a span of one year more things have been done and in another two years we will see all the projects that we have put in place coming into fruition and then Nigerians will realize that he meant well for his people. So, I want to encourage Nigerians to identify with the President and those that are working to deliver on the mandate of Mr. President for the good of our country. Nigeria shall be better than where we met it at the end of this administration.” He remarked that 60 percent of NCDMB’s investments are gas based and advised that new projects by the agency should focus on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) because of the direct impact on transportation and cost of living.

In his welcome remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe thanked the Minister for visiting the Board’s facilities and assured him of the commitment of the management and staff to supporting the Federal Government’s economic aspirations. The Minister and his entourage toured NCDMB’s facilities, including the Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (TICC) and listened to presentations from three incubates on their technology solutions and how NCDMB is supporting them from concept to commercialisation. The team also visited the NCDMB Conference Hotel project, which is undergoing construction, the NCDMB gas hub at Polaku, Yenagoa as well as the 10 megawatts gas-power plant, which supplies electricity to the Nigerian Content Tower and selected offices of the Bayelsa State government. The minister had earlier paid a courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa with the state calling on the Federal Government to establish a liquefied natural gas terminal in the state to optimize economic benefits accruing from the gas sub-sector of the country’s petroleum industry. The state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who made the appeal also stressed the need for the Federal Government to resume and complete work on the abandoned Brass Fertilizer Company for the general good of the country.
 His words: “For us here in Bayelsa, we are sitting on oil and gas. We are not only the headquarters of gas, but also a substantial or major producer of oil. However, we feel that Bayelsa is not treated fairly enough in the gas subsector. You will not believe that 60 or 70 percent of the feedstock at the LNG in Bonny, Rivers State is from Bayelsa here, and yet there is nothing to show for it. So, in the second phase of the Federal Government gasification drive, Bayelsa should have one plant. That will be the only way Bayelsa will feel a sense of belonging in the sector she is contributing so much to. I also want to remind you that we have this Brass fertiliser plant issue that has remained too long in the pipeline. We will really appreciate it if your ministry can look into the Brass Fertiliser Plant, because it is a project that if we get it right, it would engage a lot of our youths. Since you are here also supervising the NCDMB, we feel you should also help us pass this message to the Board, that some of the contracts they award, some of the companies don’t want to be here to execute their jobs.  For example, they award a contract to a company to do fabrication, but they want to do it outside and not employ our youths. We are appealing that once a project is for Bayelsa, the fabrication and everything should be done in Bayelsa.”