Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva has expressed optimism that over a 100 million Nigerians would be lifted out of poverty after the implementation of the National Gas Expansion Programme, NGEP, by the Federal Government.
The Minister disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the NGEP consultative forum in Imo State.
While listing some of the aims of the program, Sylva stated that the programme will create jobs for citizens in the country, as well as ensure that youths would be trained in the field of gas expansion.
Sylva also explained that through the programme, the country would benefit from gas as the main energy source for sustenance and utilisation, while promising to expand the demand and supply through available assets in the country.
“Counting the impacts of the programme on our socio economic space within the first year of its launching, the administration further stepped up its commitment to industrialising Nigeria through gas utilisation by declaring year 2021 to 2030 Decades of Gas.
“With proven gas reserves of over 200 million cubic feet and upsides of over 600 for, natural gas presents an opportunity for the nation to use gas as the catalyst for its socio economic renaissance,” he stated.
The minister further commended the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who he said played a major role in projecting NGEP.
