Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has said the global shift from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources, particularly natural gas, presents significant economic opportunities for the Niger Delta region.
In a statement by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director, Corporate Affairs, NDDC, Ogbuku made the assertion during a courtesy visit by the Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Mr. Ed Ubong, to the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, where both parties explored avenues for collaboration in advancing gas development and economic empowerment across the region.
The NDDC chief said the Commission was strategically positioning the Niger Delta to benefit from Nigeria’s growing gas economy by aligning its programmes with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of gas utilisation and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) adoption.
According to him, the Commission recently trained about 500 youths in CNG and autogas conversion to equip them with the skills required to take advantage of 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,” Ogbuku stated.
He noted that beyond infrastructure development, the Commission remains committed to human capital development through skills acquisition, capacity building, and economic empowerment programmes aimed at creating sustainable livelihoods for Niger Delta youths.
Ogbuku also assured that the NDDC would continue discussions with the Decade of Gas Initiative to establish a strategic partnership capable of unlocking greater economic benefits for communities across the region.
Speaking during the visit, Ubong described the NDDC as a critical interventionist agency whose role is vital to the development of the Niger Delta and the success of Nigeria’s gas expansion agenda.
He said President Tinubu’s “Gas for Prosperity” programme aligns with the objectives of the Decade of Gas Initiative, which seeks to increase gas production, deepen domestic utilisation and drive economic growth.
Ubong disclosed that the Federal Government is working to expand electricity generation through increased gas utilisation and improve access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, for households across the country.
He revealed that President Tinubu had approved a programme to distribute one million gas cylinders annually over five years, targeting five million beneficiaries by 2030.
According to him, the initiative is designed to empower women by creating opportunities in the cooking gas value chain, including distribution, retailing, and refilling.
Ubong further announced that Bayelsa State would be the next beneficiary of the programme, with the distribution of gas cylinders to women scheduled to commence in the first week of July.
He stressed that collaboration with the NDDC would be critical to achieving the objectives of the Decade of Gas Initiative in the Niger Delta and commended Ogbuku for his commitment to impactful development programmes in the region.
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