FG projects 2021-2030 as decade of gas development in Nigeria

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Federal Government has projected that 2021 to 2030 as the decade of gas development for the country.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Timipre Sylva, disclosed this on Thursday at the Seventh (Virtual) Joint International Energy Forum and International Gas Union (IEF-IGU) Ministerial Gas Forum in Malaysia.

He noted that Nigeria had made laudable achievements and successes in the gas space within 2020, hence making 2020 “the Year of Gas”.

Sylva also said during the event that Nigeria still had more work to do post 2020.

“The development of Nigeria’s vast gas resources and strengthening of the gas value chain is the Federal Government’s national priority as encapsulated in the National Gas Policy of 2017.

“In that regard, we are pursuing programmes to grow our gas economies through the development of industrial and transport gas markets, in juxtaposition with gas-to-power initiatives.

“We believe gas will become the dominant fuel for generating power not only in Nigeria but in Africa as well.

“We have commenced the implementation of carefully conceived initiatives to foster productivity and attract investments along the gas value chain.

“This includes the promotion of natural gas usage in Nigeria thereby creating alternative fuel choices for Nigerians.

“Substituting traditional white products with gas will cushion the effects of deregulation and create enormous job opportunities for Nigerians,” he said.

The Minister, however, averred that the initiative is expected in a bid to boost economic growth, improve Nigeria’s energy mix, drive investments, and provide jobs opportunities for the citizenry.

Sylva also maintained that the government had showed its commitment towards the objective through policies and projects like the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP), autogas policy and the construction of the 614km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline.

He buttressed that assessment of 2020 as “The Year of Gas” had showed the need for implementation of policies that would remove barriers affecting investment and development in the gas sector.

Sylva added that partnership was needed from all stakeholders and host communities towards transforming Nigeria into a gas-based industrialised nation because the government could not do it alone.