By Moses Patience Chat
The Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) has said that it will provide leadership in boosting the development of automotive gas, just as it has announced its support for the Federal Government’s renewed focus on prioritizing autogas to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on the price of petrol.
This was revealed in a statement on Thursday, where the leadership of NGA stated that the policy is very apt, as it accelerates the domestic adoption and utilisation of gas, a resource that the country is most endowed with.
Gas for the transportation sector and also for users of small generators, whether powered by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), is one of the most affordable, available, safe, and reliable fuels that also substantially addresses global carbon emission concerns and the wellbeing of the environment.
To achieve this, NGA urges the Federal Government to revisit and accelerate the implementation of the Nigerian Autogas Policy launched two years ago as part of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) under the well-articulated Decade of Gas Policy and Programme.
Mr. Akachukwu Nwokedi, the President of the Association, said that the refocus on gas as an alternative fuel for passenger, mass transit vehicles and users of small generators will encourage and stimulate investment, promote capacity building, put more people to work, and engender safety and sustainability in the country’s responsible energy use while helping Nigeria meet her carbon emission reduction goal set before global environmental stakeholders in 2021. Gas is cleaner, safer and more reliable and should naturally be the fuel of first choice.
“We salute the steadfastness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his quest to return Nigeria to responsible and sustainable energy utilization.
We are also elated about his recognition of the critical and game-changing role that gas would play in actualizing this policy direction and help build the nation.”
“The members of NGA are very keen to support the implementation of the autogas policy and stand ready to commence the strategic engagements and enlightenment campaigns to make it happen.”
Mr Nwokedi further advised the Federal Government to put in place and fast track the necessary instruments and regulatory support to address long standing issues to unlock the full potential of the gas sector be it on market-reflective gas pricing, intervening on legacy issues inhibiting gas investors and investments, gas supply challenges and outlining finance support programmes to encourage the front-end expense of converting millions of vehicles from petrol to gas.
