Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa has applauded President Bola Tinubu for launching the National Grassroots Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Penetration Programme, describing the initiative as a major step toward improving the welfare of Nigerians and expanding access to clean cooking energy.
Speaking on Tuesday at the state rollout of the Decade of Gas initiative in Yenagoa, where Bayelsa became the first beneficiary state, Diri praised the Federal Government for extending the programme to communities that have traditionally depended on firewood for cooking.
The initiative is expected to benefit about 27,000 vulnerable residents across the state through the distribution of LPG cylinders and free gas refills.
While commending the programme, the governor appealed to the Federal Government to extend the support period before states take over its implementation.
He argued that the current provision of six free cylinder refills should be replaced with a two-year grace period to enable state governments make adequate budgetary provisions and establish a sustainable framework.
“The refill arrangement should be extended to a two-year grace period to enable states adequately plan, engage stakeholders and make budgetary provisions that would guarantee sustainability of the programme,” Diri said.
The governor described the initiative as a significant shift in ensuring that oil and gas-producing communities begin to enjoy the benefits of cleaner and safer energy after decades of environmental degradation, poverty and neglect.
He noted that replacing firewood with cooking gas would reduce deforestation, curb environmental damage and protect families from the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to smoke from traditional cooking methods.
Diri also urged residents to embrace LPG, dismissing the widespread belief that meals prepared with firewood are superior.
He thanked President Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), development partners and sponsors for choosing Bayelsa as the pilot state for the grassroots rollout, saying the programme aligns with his administration’s commitment to improving living standards.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the launch as a landmark achievement, saying Bayelsa’s selection reflected its strategic role in Nigeria’s gas industry.
According to him, the programme is designed to make clean cooking fuel more accessible, reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal, improve public health, protect the environment and create jobs across the LPG value chain.
Ekpo assured beneficiaries that gas refill centres would be established closer to communities while the Federal Government would continue working to keep LPG affordable for ordinary Nigerians.
Earlier, Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Ed Ubong, said the Federal Government aims to transition five million Nigerian households to LPG by 2030, targeting one million households every year.
During a separate meeting with the minister, Governor Diri renewed his call for greater benefits for Bayelsa from Nigeria’s gas resources, lamenting that despite supplying about 60 per cent of the gas used by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company, the state receives no personal income tax and other related revenues.
“About 60 per cent of the gas to the NLNGC is derived from Bayelsa State. But guess what? No tax is paid to the government of Bayelsa.
”All the taxes are paid to other state governments. What is the benefit of the people from where this gas is collected?” the governor asked.
He urged President Tinubu to address what he described as a longstanding injustice, insisting that Bayelsa has been shortchanged despite bearing the environmental and health consequences of decades of oil exploration and gas flaring.
