Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has charged the new leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to prioritise the completion of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) and the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline projects.

Ekpo also appealed to the NNPC team to pay immediate attention to other critical national gas projects across the country.

The gas minister made this call during a courtesy call on him by the new NNPC leadership led by its chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, and the group chief executive officer, Bayo Ojulari, at his office in Abuja.

He noted that these projects are crucial for enhancing gas penetration in the country and working to achieve President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He also stressed the importance of the new NNPC team’s collaboration with the ministry to actualise several key projects, including the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, the Gulf of Guinea Gas Pipeline Project between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, and the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project.

Ekpo highlighted Nigeria’s vast untapped natural gas resources, estimated at 209 trillion cubic feet, urging NNPC to incentivise the gas sector to unlock its potential for both exports and domestic use, driving economic prosperity.

“We have natural gas in abundance, but mainly for export, and we’re not taking full advantage of it for domestic use. So, I urge you to assist the government in adding value to the natural gas we have to grow our economy and accelerate our development,” he stated.

He also emphasised Tinubu’s commitment to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, citing the withdrawal of fuel subsidies to pave the way for greater investments in the gas sector.

The former lawmaker noted the government’s efforts to promote Compressed Natural Gas as an alternative fuel for vehicles, aiming to reduce reliance on Premium Motor Spirit.

“President Tinubu attaches great importance to CNG as a fuel for vehicles, to move away from reliance on PMS,” Ekpo stated, adding that the government is working to overcome challenges related to CNG conversion kits, making it more accessible and affordable for Nigerians.

Speaking, the NNPC Chairman, Kida, said the team visited the minister to introduce themselves and assure him of their cooperation to actualise the mandate of NNPC and the Federal Government for the oil and gas sector.

The GCEO, Ojulari, commended the gas minister for his efforts at collaborating with stakeholders to resolve issues bedevilling the industry, exemplified by the resolution of the decade-long deadlock on the Brass Methanol Project Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement, and pledged his firm commitment to work with him to achieve Tinubu’s objectives for the gas industry.