Okon Bassey in Uyo
The Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has identified poor power supply as being responsible for the collapse and relocation of many industries in the country.
“If we fix power in this country, so many of the ailing industries would spring back to life and some of the industries that relocated from Nigeria would come back,” the Minister said.
The minister spoke while exchanging view with representative of Akwa Ibom State on the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
According to him, if the power sector was fixed it would also generate employment opportunities and reduction of crime in the country.
The minister noted that investing in power generation and development meant investing in the present and future of the Niger Delta region.
According to him, power generation remains a cornerstone of development, and gas being one of the primary drivers in the power sector has to be properly harnessed and utilised in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency.
“This Ministry is ready and willing to partner with the NDDC in the area of power generation. Today, we drive power with gas.
“If you institute such projects across the Niger Delta States, it would help to address the issue of power supply.”
The representative on the board of NDDC had said the Commission needs abundant gas resources to fast-track the implementation of sustainable development projects and programmes for the Niger Delta.
The Commissioner identified the ministry’s collaboration with NDDC as one which would yield dividends for Akwa Ibom State, Niger Delta and Nigeria.
He posited that for NDDC’s quest to uplift the Niger Delta above poverty, natural resources such as gas deposits must be harnessed and channeled into the empowerment of the people and development of the region.
“As you know, the Niger Delta is very rich in gas deposits. On behalf of the Chairman, Governing Board, and the Managing Director, I stand to say that NDDC wants a very solid partnership so that such untapped areas can be utilised.”
He said the current NDDC dispensation has implemented various intervention programmes and projects especially in education, skill acquisition, economic empowerment, healthcare, provision of solar power and other infrastructure projects.
Nkono, pledged that his office, under the guidance of the NDDC head office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, would cooperate with the Ministry in areas of mutual responsibilities and tasks.
