The Federal government has commended the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited for suspending the exportation of cooking gas while approving 100 per cent domestic supply of the product.
The commendation was contained in a statement by the Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor on Tuesday.
Ikeazor said that such a bold initiative was a welcome development and a step in the right direction that will not only bring down the price of the commodity but also bring relief to our forests and the ecosystems.
Ikeazor hailed the policy as a bold one that will bring relief to Nigerians through a reduction in cooking gas prices and help the country achieve its net-zero carbon emission target set for 2060.
The minister recalled that shortly after the increase in the prices of cooking gas in the country, millions of Nigerians could no longer afford the commodity and consequently resorted to firewood and charcoal as alternatives.
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While regretting that cutting the forests for fuel and charcoal has been a major cause of deforestation and other climate change challenges, the Minister lamented that wood and charcoal smoke contributes to air pollution and other pollutants that produce greenhouse gases.
“NLNG should be commended for its sensitivity and responsiveness to the plight of Nigerians.
“For us in the environment sector, this singular decision will not only help in restoring our forests and in addressing some of our climate challenges, but also facilitate the attainment of our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and other aspects of the Paris Agreement.
“We in the environment sector strongly support and believe that by making gas available and affordable, being the cleanest of the fossil fuels, Nigeria is now set towards cutting down on its carbon emissions drastically, thus playing a prominent role during the current energy transition period.”
According to NAN, NLNG is currently the highest single supplier of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to the domestic market, with an estimated 400,000 metric tonnes supplied in 2021.
