President Bola Tinubu has approved the distribution of one million cooking gas cylinders annually over a five-year period, targeting five million beneficiaries nationwide by 2030 as part of efforts to deepen domestic gas utilisation and expand economic opportunities.
The Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Mr Ed Ubong, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Ubong said the programme, which is designed to make Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, more affordable and accessible, would particularly empower women by creating opportunities across the gas value chain, including distribution, retailing and cylinder refilling.
According to him, following regional launches across the six geopolitical zones, implementation has moved to the state level, with Bayelsa State scheduled to benefit from the next phase.
“By the first week of July, we will commence the distribution of gas cylinders to women in Bayelsa State under the current programme,” he said.
Ubong noted that the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s “Gas for Prosperity” agenda, which seeks to expand gas production, boost domestic utilisation and stimulate economic growth.
He stressed that Nigeria’s economic aspirations would remain difficult to achieve without fully harnessing its vast gas resources, adding that efforts were underway to improve electricity generation through increased gas utilisation and expanded power generation capacity by 2030.
The Decade of Gas Initiative, he said, is also collaborating with regulatory agencies to address supply and pricing challenges in the cooking gas market while encouraging investments in gas infrastructure and human capital development.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting gas development initiatives in the Niger Delta, describing natural gas as a critical component of the region’s economic future.
He said the global transition from traditional fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources presents significant opportunities for the Niger Delta, given its abundant gas reserves.
Ogbuku disclosed that the NDDC had trained about 500 youths in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and autogas conversion earlier this year to prepare them for emerging opportunities in the sector.
“Gas is the future, and the NDDC is ready to embrace initiatives that position the Niger Delta to benefit from the opportunities inherent in the sector,” he said.
The NDDC boss added that the Commission’s programmes are aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and extend beyond infrastructure development to include skills acquisition, capacity building and economic empowerment.
He assured the Decade of Gas Initiative of the Commission’s readiness to explore a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating gas development and delivering sustainable economic benefits across the Niger Delta region.
