NGA to discuss impact of gas to Nigeria’s economic diversification

Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) will next week discuss why the Federal Government must prioritise gas development as an elixir to the country’s economic diversification bid.

NGA’s Publicity Secretary, Violin Antaih said the discussion with the theme, “Evaluating the place of Gas as a Prioritized enabler of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda”, would be the highlight of the association’s first gas business forum in 2019.

The President of the association, Audrey Joe-Ezigbo, would host the programme slated for 16th of this month.

Industry’s prominent and influential executives involved along the Nigeria oil, gas and power generation value chains, including governments, off takers, developers, gas upstream suppliers, pipelines, construction firms, equipment providers, and financiers have been confirmed to attend the programme, Antaih said.

According to him, expected speakers include; Chairman, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Paul McGrath; Group Executive Director-Gas & Power, NNPC, Saidu Mohammed; Group Executive Director, BUA Group, Kabiru Rabiu and Senior Special Assistance to the President of Nigeria on Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) (ERGP), Folarin Alayande.

Others are Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas, Ed Ubong, Deputy General Manager-Commercial, Total E & P Nigeria, Maryam Shehu and Former President, Nigerian Gas Association, Chima Ibeneche.

“Considering that policies play a key role in supporting or constraining the progress of natural gas in countries’ energy mixes, there was evidence that the adoption of measures favourable to natural gas could accelerate the penetration of this source of energy and achieve many economic, technical, social and environmental advantages”, Antaih said in a release.

NGA President, Joe-Ezigbo said the key measures that were expected to be adopted in Nigeria are market reforms that aim to improve competition and attract gas investments in the upstream and midstream sectors; the facilitation of permits and administrative processes for gas project developments; and pricing or mandated fuel switching to natural gas.

Meanwhile, the 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association would be conveyed immediately following the business forum event at same venue, the group disclosed.