Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Youth Development and the two ministers of state for oil and gas, yesterday, in Abuja unveiled a new technology that will halt rising cases of gas explosion and leakage across homes and industries.

Nigeria had recorded gas cylinder explosions and other gas-related disasters, which usually claim lives and properties, but the stakeholders, who were gathered at the commissioning of a gas leak detection device and Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) said there would be drastic reduction in the disaster.

Founded by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and innovated by Amal Technologies, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, said the gas leak detection device provides a significant safety tool that would accelerate the adoption of gas as a preferred source of energy for homes, transportation, and industry.

Coming on the backdrop of promises for a net-zero target by 2060, Lokpobiri said the move would support the initiative, adding that projects are underway to establish fuel-to-gas conversion centres and CNG refuel stations nationwide.

According to him, the Federal Government expects that the deployment of the safety device would complement efforts to accelerate the net-zero pathway.

Linking the innovation to the StartUp Act of 2022, Lokpobiri said it was critical to extend the benefits contained in the Start-up Act and any other Research-related policies to the oil and gas industry.

He called for the adoption of a collaborative approach to supporting research in line with the commitment to develop homegrown technology for the oil and gas industry and its linkage sectors.

Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, who linked the solutions to aspirations of President Tinubu government said there was a need for Nigerians to be patient with the current administration.

He admitted that the youth, with over 60 per cent population, remained key to the growth of the country, adding that the country might be looking for trouble if the challenges facing the youth were not tackled.

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the exodus of young Nigerians out of the country must stop. According to him, there is a need for young Nigerians to return home and emulate technology development such as the Amal technology, which was wholly developed in the country by a young Nigerian.

Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola, while speaking at the event said there was a need to focus on research commercialisation, noting that the NCDMB Technology Innovation and Incubation policy serves as leeway for such development.