ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has expressed regret that the state has no single investment by the federal government to show for, despite sitting on about 36.1 per cent of Nigeria’s oil and gas reserve, ranging from the upstream to the downstream sector.
The Governor spoke when a delegation from the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA) led by its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Senator Tijjani Kaura, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Uyo on Tuesday.
Governor Emmanuel also said the state deserves to be given pride of place in the benefits of the nation’s petroleum sector, considering her enormous stakes and contributions to the nation’s economy through the oil and gas sector.
He congratulated Senator Kaura on his recent appointment to succeed Mr. Umana Okon Umana who is currently the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
The Governor reassured Senator kaura of Akwa Ibom’s committment to its relationship with OGFZA especially in expediting the realization of the State’s Liberty Oil and Gas Free Zone.
The Governor called for concerted efforts by the federal government towards adequately harnessing the oil and gas endowments, and repositioning of the oil and gas sector to Nigeria’s advantage.
His words: “I want to welcome you and say a big congratulation on this appointment. We’ll do everything to give you the maximum cooperation that you need.
“We assure you the readiness of this government to collaborate with the new leadership of Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, especially in expediting the realization of the State’s Liberty Oil and Gas Free Zone.
“We’ve managed to bring in some companies ranging from LNG to Petrochemical. The amonia and fertilizer plants will also make use of the gas. At the end of the day we see that there’s hardly a situation where we can move Nigeria forward that we can ignore gas.
“Even the aluminum smelter company will not have to run on diesel; they’ll also need gas. It’s a web that will weave round and impact various aspects of the economy to make sure things work well.
“Akwa Ibom State, despite sitting on about 36.1% of Nigeria’s oil and gas reserve, has no single investment by the federal government to show for it, ranging from the upstream to the downstream sector.
“If Nigeria does not make use of the oil and gas now that it is still very relevant to the whole world, in forty years time the pursuit for the development of alternative sources of power would have been realized.”