Stakeholders in the liquefied petroleum gas sector, have advocated the usage of cooking gas as a cleaner and healthier means of cooking, unlike the use of other resources like kerosene and firewood, which poses health and environmental dangers.
They made this known at a Two Day Sensitization Awareness Campaign in Asaba, the Delta State capital, held with the theme: Stimulating Delta State Socio-economic Growth through LPG Adoption and Expansion.
Delta State Governor Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, represented by the Chief Economic Adviser Dr. Kingsley Emu, decried the rising cost of liquefied petroleum gas and called for speedy intervention by policymakers to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
“At the rate, the prices are skyrocketing LPG is gradually getting out of the range of the middle class and common man, linked to several factors including Value Added Tax VAT, devaluation of naira and large importation of LPG vis-à-vis low production locally,”Okowa observed.
Addressing the participants via the zoom platform, The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority Mr. Ahmed Farouk, and his counterpart in the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd. Dr. Philip Mshelbila, spoke of the rise in the production of liquefied petroleum gas in the country, due to increase in usage of the commodity.
The Executive Secretary Nigeria Association of Petroleum Gas Marketers, Mr. Bassey Essien, identified the potentials of the usage of cooking gas for economic growth in Delta State, while stressing the challenges of accessibility and affordability of cooking gas and multi taxation by government agencies.
“For example, the gas explosion that happened some time ago in Delta State, suddenly the government said for subsequent renewal or licenses to be emanating from Governor’s office. Some of those things should be properly put in place, such that they do not constitute bottlenecks. Mr Essien noted.
“At the Federal Government level, the re-imposition of V.A.T and custom duties on imported LPG is a problem.”
Meanwhile, Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas Mr. Emmanuel Amgbaduba, noted that the State accounting for 40% of gas exploration output, stressing the government had increased investment and strengthened regulations to maximize its potentials in the sector and to ensure public safety.
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