The Federal Government has pledged full policy support for the proposed 200 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) Ibom Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in Akwa Ibom State, in a move aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s gas potential, creating jobs and accelerating industrialisation.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ meeting on gas supply to the proposed facility.
Ekpo described the project as a strategic investment that would stimulate economic activities, attract further investments and generate employment opportunities in Akwa Ibom State and beyond.
He said the initiative was consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s Gas to Prosperity agenda, which seeks to maximise the economic benefits of Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves through domestic utilisation and exports.
“When President Tinubu came in, he said ‘Gas to Prosperity’. That gas will not remain in the ground, and it will not be for export alone. We have to use it domestically and then do export at the same time,” the minister said.
He stressed that the Federal Government was committed to creating an enabling policy environment for gas-based investments to thrive, adding that the Ibom LNG project would receive the necessary support from his ministry.
Ekpo Commends Umo Eno Over Land Allocation
The minister commended Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for his prompt response to the request for land for the proposed facility.
According to Ekpo, the governor provided the land and forwarded the Certificate of Occupancy within two weeks of receiving his letter.
“When this project came up, I wrote to the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, and within two weeks, he was able to provide land for the project and sent in the Certificate of Occupancy,” he said.
He described the gesture as evidence of the governor’s commitment to economic development and job creation, particularly for young people in the state.
Ekpo added that the state government’s support aligned with the Tinubu administration’s efforts to harness Nigeria’s natural resources for economic growth.
Reaffirming his commitment to the project, the minister said his ministry would provide the necessary policy backing to facilitate its timely completion.
“So, for this Ibom LNG project, we will give all the necessary support. Whatever we can offer from where we are, from the policy angle, we will do it to enhance the speedy completion of this job,” he assured.
NNPC Pledges Partnership With Investors
Also speaking at the meeting, the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Mr Olalekan Ogunleye, pledged the company’s support for the proposed facility.
Ogunleye reaffirmed NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to collaborating with private investors to advance gas commercialisation and expand the productive use of Nigeria’s natural gas resources.
Earlier, the Ibom LNG delegation, led by Mr Jimmy Ntuen, disclosed that the proposed facility would be located within the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone at Akpabom Community in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The delegation presented its commercial viability assessment and disclosed that it had fulfilled regulatory requirements while advancing discussions towards securing gas supply and purchase agreements.
The proposed 200 MMSCFD facility is expected to contribute to Nigeria’s gas industrialisation drive, although its actualisation will depend on the conclusion of outstanding commercial arrangements and other project requirements.
