The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva has restated government’s eagerness and commitment towards achieving its Net-zero emission targets by 2060.
The Minister stated this in his remarks at the 7th National Council of Hydrocarbons which held between Tuesday, 22nd and Thursday, 24th in Minna, Niger State.
Sylva, whose address was delivered by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Amb. Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, informed that, in demonstration of her commitment, Nigeria has commenced the “mitigation and adaptation” of proactive measures towards achieving its Net-zero emission targets by 2060, He noted that the 7th National Council of Hydrocarbons came at a time when global efforts were geared towards achieving a Net-zero gas emission.
He further noted that the recently concluded U.N Climate Conference (COP27) held in Egypt, offered another opportunity for Nigeria to identify opportunities for cooperation and collaboration with other countries and international organizations that would help accelerate mitigation and adaptation of proactive measures towards achieving its Net-zero emissions targets.
The Minister stated that, Nigeria as a major oil producing country on the African continent was not only committed to Net-zero by 2060 and its Energy Transition Plan, but was among the first 50 to have launched its guidelines for the management of fugitive methane and greenhouse gases emissions in the upstream oil and gas sector. He added that this was expected to be gazetted by Q1 of 2023 after which the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) shall forward to all stakeholders a 6 (six) months compliance directives to reduce Nigeria’s emission footprints and increase its air quality.
As a member of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization, the Minister assured of Nigeria’s commitment to working and supporting other member countries who desire to develop their methane management guidelines and fostering cooperation and collaboration for cleaner processing of fossil fuels. Oil and gas are a major development resource for Africa and will be for a long time to come, “we are however putting measures in place to ensure cleaner processes and processing to mitigate the impact of methane and greenhouse gasses”, he added.
Sylva noted that one of the gains recorded in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector with the signing of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 was the creation of regulatory frameworks with clear and non-overlapping mandates for the growth and development of the oil and gas sector.
The Minister thanked the government of Niger State led by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello for accepting to host the meeting.
In his address, the governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, exuded confidence that, achieving the Energy Transition Plan in Nigeria was attainable, if as a people, we are able to strategically outline the right policy directions and draw up implementable frameworks for the supervisory agencies correctly.
Governor Bello who was represented by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Mutane, informed that there are proven presence of commercially viable hydrocarbon in the Bida Basin of the State. He added that in an effort to explore and harness the hydrocarbon opportunities in the Bida Basin, the state government had engaged Whitepages International Company Ltd. as a Consultant in collaboration with the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University and the Federal University of Technology, Minna. The result, he noted had been impressive.
In an earlier remark, the Niger State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Hon. Abraham Umar, expressed delight over Niger State’s hosting of the National Council on Hydrocarbons, the first in northern Nigeria.
A total of 34 memorandums were received from various stakeholders. These were scrutinized and dissected at the technical session and upon attaining compromise and consensus by the delegates, a communique was issued.
The 7th National Council on Hydrocarbons has as its theme, “Roadmap and Strategic Policy Option Towards Achieving Energy Transition in Nigeria.”
Among dignitaries that graced the event in Minna, are members of the Niger State Executive Council, officials of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Traditional rulers across Niger State, stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, representatives of the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Naval Staff among others.
Signed,
Enefaa Bob-Manuel (Mrs.)
Director (Information)
MPR.
Signed
Enefaa Bob-Manuel
D(Information)
