The Federal Government has reiterated its resolve to ensure the infrastructural and industrial development of the country. This reaffirmation was made by the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva in his address on Day 4 of the ongoing Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) in Abuja on Thursday, 10th June, 2021.
To drive this agenda, the Minister said; “Natural gas ticks all the boxes as the vehicle to help government achieve the aspiration and this is why we embrace the resource to help turn around the economy”. He added that the essence is to prosper Nigerians and make life more meaningful to all.
Speaking further, Sylva stated that it was in demonstration of government’s commitment to the realization of its vision of ensuring industrial and infrastructural development through natural gas, that the Decade of Gas has now become an integral part of NIPS.
According to the Minister, Nigeria’s abundant gas reserve will be meaningless without any action, hence his expectation that the gas session conversation by panelists be more action-oriented.
The Minister told the gathering that the feedback he’s getting from stakeholders and Nigerians shows that they’re in full support of Government’s Natural Gas Agenda. As a result, “we cannot let the people down, we cannot afford any delay and we need to hit the iron while it is red hot”, he added
In his address, the President, Nigeria Gas Association and Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas, Mr. Ed Ubong listed the critical conditions that should be addressed to enhance the natural gas revolution to include; putting in place the right regulatory structure that will allow commercial activities to go ahead, passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), building of infrastructures that will accelerate the growth of the sector among others.
In his remarks, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Degi Bioborakuma who represented the Chairman of the Committee, Senator James Manager, assured the gathering that the passage of the PIB will soon see the light of the day.
Enefaa Bob-Manuel
Deputy-Director (Information)
Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
