Category: Oil and Gas

  ‎ CHUKS OKOH ‎Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has charged governments, private sector players, financiers, and international partners to collaborate in mobilizing resources, deploying technologies, and developing innovative financing models to unlock Africa’s vast gas resources. ‎ ‎This, he said, would accelerate sustainable development while advancing the continent’s energy transition goals. ‎ ‎ A statement by Mr Louis Ibah ‎Spokesman for the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas) said, ‎Ekpo disclosed this in an address Monday at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) workshop titled “Natural Gas for Africa’s Sustainable Development” on the sidelines of Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa. ‎ ‎He said Africa is rich in natural resources, including large natural gas reserves, yet over 600 million Africans lack electricity and nearly one billion lack access to clean cooking solutions, constituting a development emergency that constrains education, healthcare, and industrialization. ‎ ‎According to Ekpo, if Africa is to achieve the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, it must urgently deploy natural gas as a catalyst for inclusive growth and prosperity. ‎ ‎He highlighted the unique value of natural gas for Africa’s sustainable development, citing its potential to expand energy access by powering homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses; drive industrialization through fertilizer, petrochemicals, cement, and steel production; enable clean cooking, reducing reliance on biomass and improving public health outcomes; and support the energy transition by complementing renewables, providing baseload stability, and reducing emissions compared to coal and oil. ‎ ‎For Africa, Ekpo noted that natural gas is not simply a transition fuel but both a bridge and a destination fuel, essential to building resilient economies and societies. ‎ ‎He said in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has placed gas at the center of the economic transformation agenda through the Decade of Gas initiative, aiming to leverage over 200 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves to deliver prosperity for Nigerians, strengthen regional energy security, and contribute to global stability. ‎ ‎Ekpo highlighted steps taken to harness Nigeria’s gas resources for sustainable development to include  expanding gas-to-power projects, promoting clean cooking through the LPG penetration programme targeting five million homes by 2030, and rolling out Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel. ‎ ‎ ‎He noted that strategic infrastructure projects, including the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) and OB3 pipelines, and the Nigeria LNG Train 7 project, are progressing to open up domestic and regional markets and position Nigeria as a reliable global supplier of LNG. ‎ ‎Ekpo further stated that the country is promoting regional integration through projects like the West African Gas Pipeline and the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, and exploring new opportunities with Libya. He said through the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and the Presidential Executive Orders on Oil and Gas Reforms, Nigeria has  created transparent, investor-friendly frameworks to attract capital into the gas sector. ‎ ‎ ‎”Africa’s development must be powered by Africa’s resources, driven by Africa’s priorities, and supported through Africa-led partnerships,” Ekpo said. ‎ ‎”Natural gas is central to this vision; it is the fuel that can light homes, power industries, secure livelihoods, and safeguard our future. Nigeria stands ready to share experiences, deepen cooperation, and work with all of you towards an energy-secure, industrialized, and prosperous Africa.” ‎ ‎ ‎

The member representing Edo State on the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Patrick Aisowieren, has assured the people of the Niger Delta region that the commission will deliver on its mandate under the leadership of the supervising Minister, Engr. Abubakar Momoh. The two-time member of the House of Representatives made the statement on Monday in Benin City during the commissioning of an injection substation in Amufi, Ikpoba Okha Local Government, worth N248 million to boost power supply in the state. He said, “This project is the reality of the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President, and I trust the NDDC will not fail under the watchful eyes of Engr. Abubakar Momoh, the Minister of Niger Delta Development. “The Amufi substation started a few years ago and has been delivered during my tenure as Edo State representative on the board. Let me sincerely, on behalf of our people, appreciate the Managing Director for delivering this impactful project. “I urge the benefiting communities around this area to take ownership and protect this facility for the best use and interest of all,” Aisowieren said. The Managing Director of the NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, assured stakeholders that the road leading to the facility would be constructed to ease the challenges faced by residents. He said the project would improve the energy requirements of Amufi and neighboring communities, as well as increase productivity in businesses for companies and artisans in the beneficiary communities. He said, “NDDC is a blessing to the Niger Delta people, contrary to the negative narrative. The only government presence you see in some areas is projects done by the NDDC. We are not in competition with the state government but aim to complement what they are doing. “President Bola Tinubu has directed the NDDC to complete all projects and revive abandoned ones for the benefit of the people. “This project will improve the commerce of Amufi and its environs and attract people to come to live in the community. “I must thank the community for ensuring that the project, while under construction, was not vandalized. We want other communities to emulate the gesture of the Amufi community. This project will serve the interests of the people.”