…Says UTM’s FLNG project will drive jobs, investment and industrialisation

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a 15-year gas supply framework for UTM Offshore Limited, describing the decision as a major boost to Nigeria’s drive for indigenous gas-based industrialisation.

PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, in a letter of appreciation dated August 6, 2026, said the approval would enable the indigenous company to advance plans for the construction of Nigeria’s first Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility offshore Akwa Ibom State.

Igali said the multi-billion-dollar project represented more than a major investment in the Niger Delta, arguing that its economic impact could spread across the South-South region and the wider Nigerian economy.

According to him, the project would help position the region and the country for a new era of gas-based development driven substantially by indigenous companies.

He cited UTM Offshore, Seplat Energy and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited as examples of Nigerian-linked companies contributing to the development of the country’s gas resources.

PANDEF said the project could also inspire a new generation of indigenous entrepreneurs, particularly because it is being driven by UTM Offshore founder, Dr Julius Rone, an entrepreneur from the Niger Delta.

“The commencement of construction of this giant investment being undertaken by a relatively young person, Dr. Julius Rone, OFR, from the area would be a great inspiration to others to also join the efforts of government in adding value in the beneficiation of the country’s rich gas reserves,” Igali said.

The forum further highlighted the potential employment opportunities expected from the construction phase, saying the project could generate jobs while stimulating ancillary businesses and other economic activities across the region.

Beyond investment and employment, PANDEF said the development could have a direct impact on the welfare of residents by contributing to greater availability of gas for domestic and industrial use.

Igali expressed optimism that projects of this scale could help moderate the pressure created by rising domestic and industrial gas prices while supporting Nigeria’s broader energy security objectives.

PANDEF also linked the development to the long-running challenge of gas flaring in the Niger Delta, saying increased utilisation of the country’s gas resources could contribute to efforts to reduce the environmental damage associated with flaring.

The forum urged the Federal Government to sustain its support for the project and provide the necessary cooperation to enable the promoters to deliver it within the projected timelines.

Igali assured the President that PANDEF would mobilise support across the Niger Delta, particularly in Akwa Ibom State, to create a conducive environment for the project’s take-off and long-term operation.

The forum described the approval as an opportunity to demonstrate how indigenous investment, government policy and the region’s natural resources could combine to drive sustainable economic transformation in the Niger Delta.