NNPC GMD demands more advocacy, advice from NGA

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has demanded more advocacy and advice from the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) regarding how the government can fully harness gas potential of the country.

Nigeria lacks stable gas policy that would have harnessed the country’s gas potentials. The country has a proven gas reserves of 187trillion standard cubic feet (scuf) which is yet to be explored. The NNPC boss is however calling on the experts to advice the government on the way forward.

According to him, “What I need from NGA is a lot of advocacy and advice on whatever the sector requires. We will look at it, evaluate and see how best to make good use of it and drive the gas sector forward.”

The NNPC boss noted that as the midwife of the nation’s premier gas association since 1999, the NNPC has a moral and strategic interest in ensuring the continuous existence and sustained growth of the association.

“The NGA is a reflection of the development of the gas industry in Nigeria and they have contributed to government in terms of advocacy and advice”, said Baru.

The NNPC boss said that theme of the upcoming NGA conference “Nigerian Gas Roadmap: Potential for Domestic, Regional and Global influence”, is quite apt for the period especially with the country’s interests in the West Africa Gas Pipeline, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited and the challenges in the power sector both in Nigeria and immediate vicinity.

Baru thanked the members of the NGA for their advocacy in ensuring a review of the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) gas terms adding that the NNPC is working round the clock to ensure maximisation of the nation’s vast gas resources by incentivizing all parts of the gas value chain.

Bolaji Osunsanya, the NGA President, said the purpose of the courtesy visit was to stimulate much-needed conversation on a range of important and diverse perspectives regarding natural gas development and its economic benefits to Nigeria and the support of NNPC for the upcoming conference.

“Nigeria is slowly turning to gas as a primary driver of the nation’s development. The NNPC, directly and in proxy, holds a significant position in the development of the sector, which is a further indication that the NNPC has a prominent role to play”, Osunsanya said.

The NGA President called for increased dialogue and cooperation between the association and the state oil company, adding that by aligning with each other, Nigeria’s huge natural gas resources could be explored as the viable option to crude oil in the face of present economic realities.

Osunsanya thanked the NNPC and Dr. Baru for the unflinching support for the association and pledged the readiness of members to work with the NNPC in this regard.