LNG will solve 90 per cent of Nigeria’s fuel challenges — Director, NGEP
The Director National Gas Expansion Programme at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in Katsina State, Yahaya Aminu Aba has called on Nigerians who are yet to revert to the usage of natural gas as an alternative source of fuel to begin to do so as it has the capacity to solve 90 per cent of Nigeria’s energy problem.
According to Aminu, the use of other traditional source of fuel like felling of trees for firewood purposes has eventually resulted in desertification which is a major factor responsible for the crisis between herders and farmers as well as banditry.
“We have more of gas reserve than petroleum and this gas reserve that we have, when well utilised, will solve almost 80 per cent of our energy problem in the country.
“The traditional sources of fuel that we are using, like firewood and others are responsible for desertification and that is the genesis of most of the migration leading to headers and farmers crisis.
“When there is desertification in an area, it frustrates the herders and they tend to move to where they have things to feed their cattle and other animals,” Aminu said
He further said that the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG, for cooking and other chores is the best option available as other traditional sources of fuel are hazardous could lead to several health challenges.
“There are a lot of health effects in using firewood as a result of the byproduct of burning the wood. So, if you look at that, then that means we need to go for the cleanest and safest source of energy that we can deploy to use, which globally it is agreed that natural gas, is the safest source of fuel.”
The Director made the call during a sensitization workshop on the National Gas Expansion Project organized by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in conjunction with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to engage and plan for the rapid rollout of Micro Distribution Centres in Katsina State.
According to the Director, the essence of the Micro Distribution Centres is to make LPG accessible, affordable and to bring it closer to the citizens, particularly the locals who are yet to embrace it for cooking in their homes and restaurants.
“So, the essence of this programme is to roll out and throw more light on the importance of the Micro Distribution Centre and to highlight the concept of putting up the micro distribution centres as part of the National Gas Expansion Project.
“With a Micro Distribution Center, it will be easier for whoever wants to use gas to access it because the centres are near to you. Is Just to take your gas cylinder to the macro distribution center and refill it,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Director General Katsina State Investment Promotion Agency, Ibrahim Tukur Jikamshi, said the MDC will help to reduce the level of unemployment in the state. He further said the MDC will be established across the state and the youths selected will be provided with the required training needed to run the centres effectively.
He further said that the programme will also look at the possibility of training people on how to convert their vehicles, generators and other machines from using petroleum to the use of gas.
