Akwa Ibom scores low on use of cooking gas – Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers

Dennis Udoma

Despite holding a conservative lead as the highest oil and gas producing state in the country, Akwa Ibom is ranked lowest in the use of cooking gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association’s President, Mr Nosa Ogieva-Okunbor has said.

Mr Ogieva-Okunbor made the disclosure in Uyo on Thursday during this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association.

He said, statistics available to them revealed that, out of a population of more than six million people in the state, only an abysmal percentage of 11, 000 MT was being consumed by residents of the state as at 2017.

Mr Ogieva-Okunbor stated that, due to the yawning gap, the body decided to seek Akwa Ibom State Government’s support to deepen enlightenment on the safety and use of gas for cooking in the state.

Mr Ogieva-Okunbor noted that, Akwa Ibom was ranked the highest oil and gas producing state in the country but, the use of cooking gas by residents was poor.

He maintained that, it was in the light of the abysmal statistics that, the meeting was brought to the state, as a deliberate measure of gas marketers to sensitize the citizenry on safety and the use cooking gas.

According to him, “available statistics show that, LPG consumption in Akwa Ibom State is just 11, 000 MT as at 2017.

For a state, which is the highest oil and gas producer in the country with a population of over 6, 000, 000 people, goes to show abysmal consumption level of LPG.

“The choice of Uyo for the association’s 2019 AGM, is borne out of the contributions of the association to ensure that, the message on the use of LPG is taken to every nook and cranny of the country’’.

Ogieva-Okunbor said, N5 million worth of gas cylinders were distributed free to gas consumers in the state during the annual general meeting, to deepen awareness as well as to give back to the society.

He said that out of the 300 gas cylinders with burners that would be distributed, 100 gas cylinders would be given to the Governor’s wife, Martha through her pet project,  FeYREP for onward distribution to the less privileged.

Ogieva-Okunbor explained that, cooking gas was the cheapest and safest energy source in the country, even as Nigeria has the best gas in the world.

He however, expressed worry over the increasing challenges of multiple taxation in the state by government agencies.

Also in his remarks, Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum Resources, Mr Ekong Sampson commended the body for bringing the AGM to the state, and assured of the state government’s readiness to collaborate with them to create awareness on the use of LPG.

Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Glory Edet was on hand to receive the free donation of 100 pieces of gas cylinders, on behalf of wife of the Governor, assuring that enlightenment on the use of cooking gas would be taken to the grassroots.