By Okey Muogbo
In a landmark move to accelerate grassroots development and capacity building, the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) has inaugurated Hon Moses Nomeh, Deputy National President of the Associated Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), as its Chairman.
This appointment aims to harmonize Local Government Areas’ efforts under the ALGON umbrella.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) headquarters in Abuja, was graced by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Nicolas Ella Agbo, and other high-ranking officials.
Also in attendance were members of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and a technical working group.
Ambassador Agbo conveyed the warm regards of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, as well as the Minister of State (Oil), Ekperikpe Ekpo, and the Minister of State (Gas), emphasizing the significance of this initiative in achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a remark, the Permanent Secretary noted that Nigeria, in collaboration with ALGON and other stakeholders, is poised to benefit from the Gas Expansion Programme through auto gas conversion technology, human capital development, gas infrastructure, and other derivatives.
He highlighted the establishment of a working group and the inauguration of the National Gas Expansion Programme as a positive development setting the tone for future successes.
Ambassador Agbo stated that it has become necessary to engage with Local Government Areas to support the boosting of a one-megawatt power initiative across the 774 LGAs, acknowledging the need to address the power gap in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
He emphasized the collaborative aspect of the initiative, involving ALGON and experienced stakeholders to assist in moving the project forward.
The terms of reference for the National Gas Expansion Programme include, but are not limited to, needs assessment at the LGAs, designing a simple audit template for energy needs in rural areas, financing, commercialization, and timelines for programme implementation.
In his response, Hon Moses Nomeh expressed his enthusiasm for the National Gas Expansion Programme, describing it as a low-hanging fruit and cash cow for job and wealth creation, poised to rapidly exit Nigeria from its economic woes. He assured that ALGON is ready to partner with the Ministry, creating necessary working synergies to achieve shared objectives.
Hon Nomeh thanked the Permanent Secretary for acknowledging the critical role of Local Government Areas in establishing a nexus with the Ministry to bring effective gas expansion penetration to communities. He urged the audience to rise to the challenges and assured that ALGON will prioritize the agenda, study it, develop needs assessments in line with the heterogeneous settings of LGAs, and build capacity through community engagement.
The collaborative efforts of the Ministry, ALGON, NDE, and other stakeholders are set to establish business incubation centers for skilled manpower needs, delivering at the local government level, with all terms of reference and timelines aimed at presenting opportunities that will impact the project.
