The Federal government of Nigeria says it has discovered that Imo State is richly endowed with natural mineral resources especially crude oil and gas.
According to the minister of state on petroleum, Temipre Silver, the mineral deposit is of substantial quantity to the level of over 200 trillion cubic feet.
The minister stated this at a programme on oil and gas in owerri Imo State Capital pointing out that the year 2020 was declared a year of oil and gas .
He further explained that the inauguration of heads of committees on the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) was done on January 16, 2020.
According to him,” the federal government has declared the year 2020 to 2030 as the decade of oil and gas”
“NGEP , according to him is an initiative designed to reinforce and to expand gas supply as well as to stimulate demand in Nigeria, through the effective and efficiient mobilization and utilization of all resources and infrastructure in Nigeria”
The minister expressed optimism that NGEP will also promote the use of natural gas as the main energy source for sustained industrialiazation through the establishment of gas based industries, such as petrochemicals, fertilizers, pharmaceauticals , textiles, etc, he said, that the programme had already taken place in Ekiti and Anambra states.
According to him ,another objective of NGEP is that human capital will be developed and jobs will be created in the oil and gas subsector.
On the implementation strategy, the minister said, “while the year 2020 was dedicated to harmonious creation, the year 2021 and beyond is for programme implementation”
He however commended Governor Hope Uzodinma for the administration’s commitment, passion and support for the programme and enjoined Imo people to embrace the programme.
Meanwhile, Governor Hope Uzodinma spoke through the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly Paul Emeziem, describing the programme as that of change, loaded with cost, efficiency and sustainability alternatives among others.
He commended the federal government for initiating the programme adding that it is a progress in the area of development and civilization of mankind.
“The federal government has done its bit and it is a process of enhancement and our life process and it will create employment opportunity for our people” he stated, even as the programme attracted goodwill messages from a number of Imo state government officials
