Reps Urge FG To Implement Nigerian Gas Policy

The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to fully implement the Nigerian Gas Policy to boost the oil and gas sector, enhance the economy as well as boost the domestic market for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

The call followed the adoption of a motion moved by Rotimi Agunsoye (APC, Lagos) at the plenary on Tuesday.

He said the Nigerian Gas Policy aims at moving Nigeria from being a crude-oil-export-based economy to an attractive oil-and-gas-based industrial economy.

Agunsoye noted that a proper harnessing of LPG could lead Nigeria to become a gas-based industrial nation while satisfying local demands.

He said: “The years 2020-2030 have been marked by the federal government as the “decade of gas” aimed to achieve actualisation of gas for all in the country for use in homes, vehicles and industries”.

He added that the recent surge in the price of cooking gas in the open market as cooking gas which cost only about N4,000 in July 2021 now costs about N8,000 with an all-time high of about N9,000 during 2021 yuletide season, standing at over 100% increase within one year is worrying.

The lawmaker said the implementation of the gas policy will not only increase the domestic use of cooking in more households but would have a greater economic scale which would reduce the price for more affordability.

He added: “Nigeria has the largest natural gas reserve in Africa and holds the 9th position in the world.

“A nationwide sensitisation and campaign for the adoption and expansion of the use of cooking gas has been planned by the federal government.”