Niger Delta
Minister Hails NCDMB’s Local Content Strides
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo has lauded the developmental strides of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in the gas sector of the oil and gas industry.
He said the Federal Government’s firm determination to advance the nation’s gas resources was the surest pathway to economic prosperity.
Ekpo stated this in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Wednesday, when he visited the facilities and projects of the Board in which he serves as Co-Chairman of the Governing Council, noting that Nigeria is endowed with vast natural gas resources of about 209 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves.
He also emphasized the necessity to harness these resources effectively to drive economic development, underlining President Bola Tinubu’s unalloyed support to the gas sector with initiatives extending to the entire value chain, notably gas development, distribution and penetration.
Acording to the Minister, the Federal Government’s drive is geared towards reducing the cost of transportation, the cost of living and impact every part of the country positively.
He listed some of the key initiatives his ministry is pursing to include investments in critical gas infrastructure development to support the transportation and distribution of natural gas across the country, promotion of domestic gas utilisation for power generation, industrial applications, and transportation as well as strengthening NCDMB’s capacity to build capacity and enforce local content policies.
Other laudable initiatives reeled out by the Minister include encouraging and supporting gas-to-power projects to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of electricity, expanding Nigeria’s capacity to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to international markets, to generate revenue and position Nigeria as a key player in the global gas market, and strengthening the policy and regulatory frameworks governing the gas sector to create an enabling environment for investment and innovation.
The Minister stressed that 60 percent of NCDMB’s investments are gas based and advised that new projects by the Board should focus on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) due to the direct impact on transportation and cost of living.
He lauded the NCDMB for the remarkable strides it had made in promoting local content and for constructing the magnificent 17 storey headquarter building which, he said, signifies the impressive growth and depth of local capacity.
Ekpo added that the visit provided him an opportunity to meet with management and staff of the Board, learn more about the Board’s operations, and discuss how to continue driving local content development in the nation’s gas sector.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, thanked the Minister for visiting the Board’s facilities and assured him of the commitment of the management and staff of the Board in supporting the Federal Government’s economic aspirations.
The Tide reports that the Minister and his entourage toured the NCDMB’s facilities, including the Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (TICC) as well as listened to presentations from three incubates on their technology solutions and how NCDMB is supporting them from concept to commercialisation.
The Minister’s team also visited the NCDMB Conference Hotel project, which is currently being constructed, the NCDMB gas hub at Polaku, Yenagoa, as well as the 10 megawatts gas-power plant, which supplies electricity to the Nigerian Content Tower and selected offices of the Bayelsa State Government.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
