The federal government and other stakeholders have been urged to improve awareness on the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to grow investment as well as for domestic utilisation in the country.
The National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), Mr Nosa Ogieva-Okunbor, made the call at the 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the body held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital recently.
He observed with dismay that Nigeria being the sixth largest producer of LPG and the second largest on the African continent still has the lowest per capita consumption in Africa.
“As alternative fuel, LPG presents valuable opportunity to combating climate change, reduced deforestation and improved community health, economy and livelihood.” he stressed.
He, however, maintained that every stakeholder, producers, depot owners, operators and retailers were important to achieving the government’s aspiration of growing LPG in the country.
Ogieva-Okunbor implored government to review and remove bottlenecks working to stifle the growth of the industry and create the enabling environment to encourage Ease of Doing business in the sector.
He said the sector harboured a huge job potential, stressing that growing the LPG business would result in job creation, economic stability and growth.
“The huge gas reserves of over 185 trillion cubic feet portend opportunities to exploit diverse investment opportunities across the spectrum of the sector, enormous potential for operational activities of the government, increased forex earnings and a boost of the GDP growth and infrastructural development.” he added.
The President of the NALPGAM, explained that the meeting of the body in Uyo and the distribution of 300 gas cylinder to rural women in the state was part of the efforts at deepening the use of LPG as the preferred cooking energy in the country.
He regretted that Akwa Ibom State which is currently the highest oil and gas producing state in the country with a population of over six million people was still at abysmal consumption level of LPG.
“Therefore the choice of Uyo as the venue for the association’s 2019 AGM is well understood as it is borne out of the contributions of the association to ensure that the message of the use of LPG is taken to every corner of the country.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to the State Government to support our effort in deepening the use of LPG in Akwa Ibom State and create better and healthy citizenry.
“I also want to invite members of the Association and other stakeholders in the industry to join hands with NALPGAM to take LPG to every house hold in Akwa Ibom state and Nigeria as a whole.” he posited.
Source: Thisday
