The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to build the capacity of women across the Niger Delta region to enable them participate effectively in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) value chain as part of efforts to promote economic empowerment, enhance livelihoods and expand access to clean energy solutions.
The Managing Director of the Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this Thursday, 18 June, during a meeting with Decade of Gas Initiative team at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Ogbuku stated that the Commission had already taken significant steps in supporting Nigeria’s gas sector through the training of 500 youths from the Niger Delta region in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) auto-gas conversion earlier this year.
He noted that the initiative formed part of the Commission’s broader commitment to creating employment opportunities and equipping young people with relevant technical skills to participate in the nation’s evolving energy sector.
The NDDC Managing Director expressed optimism that the Federal Government’s Cooking Gas Penetration Programme would provide women with sustainable economic opportunities and improve their ability to support their families financially.
According to him, increased participation of women in the LPG value chain would not only strengthen household incomes but also contribute to economic growth and social development across communities in the Niger Delta.
According to him, the NDDC is willing to explore areas of collaboration with the Decade of Gas Initiative to ensure the successful implementation of the programme across the region.
“We are committed to partnering with stakeholders to bring the Decade of Gas LPG Grassroot Penetration Programme to reality and ensure that our people, especially women and youths, benefit from the opportunities within the gas value chain,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Mr. Ed Ubong, said the programme aims to distribute one million gas cylinders annually as part of a broader target of five million cylinders by the year 2030.
He explained that the initiative was designed to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking energy, reduce dependence on traditional fuels and expand economic opportunities within the gas sector.
Mr. Ubong noted that Nigeria’s economic prosperity is closely linked to the effective utilisation of its abundant gas resources, adding that gas production in the country has witnessed significant growth, resulting in increased revenue generation.
He stressed that sustained investment in gas infrastructure and capacity development would unlock greater opportunities for industrialisation, job creation and economic diversification.
He further revealed that LPG Grassroot Penetration Programme has been completed with its regional launches in the 6 geographical zones, including Abuja alongside the free distribution of filled cylinders to women and youths.
The Penetration Programme would continue state by state, with Bayelsa State selected as the starting point. The exercise, he said, would continue across the country until the programme’s targets are achieved.
The Decade of Gas Initiative’s Coordinating Director stressed the need to expand gas production capacity to boost government revenue, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
He emphasised that increasing domestic gas utilisation would play a critical role in enhancing energy security and improving living standards for millions of Nigerians.
Mr Ubong also appealed for a strategic partnership with the NDDC, noting that the programme has secured the support of the World Bank and other development partners committed to advancing clean energy adoption and sustainable development in Nigeria.
Other members of the Decade of Gas Initiative delegation included Mr. Opeyemi Balogun, Infrastructure and Demand Team Lead; Mrs. Edu Antai, ICT and Media Team Lead; Ms. Ugochukwu Natasha, Gas Supply Team Lead; and Ms. Maeve Allanso, LPG Analyst.
The Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, KJW, PhD, alongside other members of the Commission’s management team were present at the meeting.
