Nigerian Government Pledges Support For W’African Gas Pipeline Project

Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has restated the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government, to support the West African Gas Pipeline Project to realise its full potential and objectives.

A statement signed by the Spokesman for the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Louis Ibah, said Ekpo stated this in his speech at the WAGP Authority Committee of Ministers meeting in Cotonou, Benin Republic, assuring other member countries (Benin, Togo and Ghana) of uninterrupted gas supply from Nigeria to meet their domestic needs.

He said the Nigerian government targets strengthening the brotherhood of the West African sub-region and ensuring energy stability through the West African gas pipeline system.

He said at present, Nigeria is pursuing gas as a destination fuel, and therefore working through various initiatives to monetise its abundant natural gas resources.

Some of the initiatives listed by Ekpo included developing and monetising over five billion cubic feet per day of gas for the domestic and export market; auto gas initiatives such as the Presidential CNG programme, and the Nigerian Gas Expansion Programme geared at encouraging the switch from liquid fuel to gas for automobiles and many more.

“The above initiatives will ensure the continuous supply of reliable gas to WAGP through the N-Gas Limited that has been the vehicle for commercialising the Eastern gas,” he said.

Ekpo also pledged his support for N-Gas Ltd and other value chain participants, especially Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company to resolve the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System pressure issues.

The Gas Minister said the NGIC is carrying out various projects that would address the ELPS pressure challenge including connecting the gas reach from the eastern region with the western and northern demand regions and installation of midline compressors that would provide a total solution to the pressure challenges.

‘’While efforts are being made to ensure adequate gas supply from Nigeria, it was important to highlight the need for payment performance to both N-Gas and WAPCO to ensure sustainable gas supply.’’ Ekpo said.

Olusola Akintonde/Punch