…Commission says natural gas development, CNG adoption and skills training will position region for emerging energy investments
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has said the global shift from traditional fossil fuels towards cleaner energy sources, particularly natural gas, presents significant economic opportunities for the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a meeting with the Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Mr Ed Ubong, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Ogbuku said the Commission was leveraging the Niger Delta’s vast natural resources to promote economic growth, industrial development and sustainable livelihoods, stressing that gas would remain central to Nigeria’s future energy strategy.
According to him, the NDDC has aligned its interventions with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, especially through initiatives aimed at expanding gas utilisation and supporting the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
“Gas is the future, and the NDDC is ready to embrace initiatives that position the Niger Delta to benefit from the opportunities inherent in the sector,” Ogbuku said.
He noted that the Commission recently trained about 500 youths in CNG and autogas conversion as part of efforts to equip young people in the region with skills required for emerging opportunities in the gas value chain.
Gas transition seen as economic catalyst
The NDDC boss said Federal Government programmes focused on gas development could deliver wide-ranging economic benefits, including job creation, industrial expansion and improved energy access.
He added that the Commission would continue discussions with the Decade of Gas Initiative to establish partnerships capable of accelerating gas-based development across the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku stressed that human capital development remains a major part of the Commission’s mandate, noting that NDDC interventions go beyond roads and physical infrastructure to include skills development, entrepreneurship support and economic empowerment.
“The future of the Niger Delta depends not only on infrastructure but also on preparing our people to participate in emerging industries,” he said.
Decade of Gas Initiative seeks deeper Niger Delta partnership
The Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Mr Ed Ubong, said collaboration with the NDDC would be critical to unlocking the region’s gas potential.
Ubong described the NDDC as a key intervention agency whose role remains important to Nigeria’s ambition of building a gas-driven economy.
He said the country’s economic transformation agenda would be incomplete without fully harnessing its significant gas resources.
According to him, the Federal Government’s “Gas for Prosperity” agenda aligns with the objectives of the Decade of Gas Initiative, which focuses on increasing gas production, expanding domestic utilisation and supporting economic growth.
Power generation, LPG access among priorities
Ubong said one of the Initiative’s major priorities is improving electricity generation by increasing gas availability for power plants.
He disclosed that Nigeria is working towards significantly expanding electricity generation capacity by 2030 through greater utilisation of domestic gas resources.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to make Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, more affordable and accessible across the country.
According to him, dedicated teams are working with stakeholders to address supply constraints, pricing challenges and infrastructure gaps affecting the LPG market.
The Decade of Gas Initiative is also collaborating with regulatory agencies to develop pricing frameworks for both cooking gas and transportation gas while encouraging investments in gas infrastructure.
One million cylinders annually programme
Ubong further revealed that President Tinubu had approved a programme to distribute one million gas cylinders annually over five years, targeting five million beneficiaries by 2030.
He said the initiative is designed to promote cleaner cooking solutions while creating economic opportunities, particularly for women who will participate in cylinder distribution, retailing, refilling and other parts of the LPG value chain.
Following regional launches across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, the programme is moving into state-level implementation.
Bayelsa State is expected to be among the next beneficiaries, with cylinder distribution to women scheduled to begin in early July.
Ubong said the partnership with the NDDC would strengthen the implementation of gas development programmes in the Niger Delta and support broader efforts to create a sustainable gas economy.
The meeting underscores growing government and industry focus on using Nigeria’s gas resources as a bridge fuel to support energy security, industrialisation and economic diversification.