Prominent Niger Delta leaders has called for greater understanding among stakeholders in the country’s oil and gas sector. They also endorsed the current drive by the Federal Government to transit into a gas economy.

The notable Niger Delta leaders spoke in Port Harcourt, today. The leaders extolled the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, for providing the necessary driving force for the region’s economic development. The prominent Niger Delta leaders are currently touring Federal Government projects in the Niger Delta region to evaluate and monitor their progress.

The leaders noted that the success of the regeneration of the country’s economy in which the present government is committed would depend to a great extent on the transition into a gas economy.

Nigeria is looking at gas as a transition fuel to renewables. The leaders emphasized the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), strategies to further harness the vast hydrocarbon deposit in the country, the cheapness of renewable energy, products availability in all nooks and crannies of the region and strong collaboration among industry players.

They praised the Federal Government for discharging its responsibilities, establishing the 50 million litre Petroleum Product Terminal in Brass, putting its feet on research and development, and issuing new marginal field awards.

Spokesperson of the Niger Delta People’s Movement (NDPM), Mrs. Ibifuro Tatua in a statement Monday morning praised the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva for his commitment to developing the oil and gas sector, moving the country’s economy to gas economy and making Nigeria relevant in the global industrial drive.

The leaders spoke on strong capacities of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria and the investment opportunities. They listed the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company, Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum, and the Oil and Gas Park in Ogbia as key projects of the current administration in the Niger Delta region.

The leaders commended Sylva for the successful hosting of the 2021 Nigeria International Energy Summit, increasing indigenous participation in the oil sector, curbing illegal refining, closing the infrastructure gap in the distribution of petroleum products, and stabilizing products pricing in the country.

Particularly, the leaders hailed the minister for reducing youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region, liberalizing the market, and creating employment opportunities for Nigerians. The leaders said that Nigeria as a country has no choice but to transform into an industrialized nation with gas playing a major role.