In response to growing calls for improved governance and lower living costs, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), has reiterated the federal government’s commitment to leveraging Nigeria’s gas resources as a key driver of economic growth.
Speaking in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during a visit to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), where he co-chairs the governing council, Ekpo highlighted Nigeria’s significant natural gas reserves, estimated at around 209 trillion cubic feet. He stressed the importance of harnessing these resources to foster economic advancement.
Ekpo emphasized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering support for the gas sector, which spans the entire value chain from development to distribution. He noted that the government’s efforts are aimed at reducing transportation and living costs while benefiting every region of the country.
Key initiatives from the ministry include investing in crucial gas infrastructure to facilitate transportation and distribution, promoting domestic gas use for power generation, industrial applications, and transportation, and strengthening NCDMB’s role in building local capacity and enforcing local content policies.
Additional initiatives include supporting gas-to-power projects for reliable electricity, expanding LNG exports to boost revenue and enhance Nigeria’s global position, and improving policy and regulatory frameworks to attract investment and innovation.
Ekpo praised NCDMB for its significant gas-based investments and its impressive 17-storey headquarters, which reflects the growth of local capabilities. He encouraged the agency to focus on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) projects due to their direct impact on transportation and living costs.
The visit allowed Ekpo to meet with NCDMB management and staff, learn about the agency’s operations, and discuss continued local content development. NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, thanked the minister for the visit and assured the Board’s dedication to supporting the Federal Government’s economic goals.
During the tour, Ekpo and his team visited several NCDMB projects, including the Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (TICC), the NCDMB Conference Hotel under construction, the gas hub at Polaku, Yenagoa, and the 10-megawatt gas-powered plant supplying electricity to the Nigerian Content Tower and Bayelsa State government offices.
Ekpo also met with Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who welcomed the minister and advocated for significant investments in the gas sector. Ewhrudjakpo argued that Bayelsa, a major supplier of gas feedstock to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant, should host one of NLNG’s gas processing facilities. He also called for expedited development of the Brass methanol project to boost the state’s economic development.
