The governor of Bayelsa state, Senator Douye Diri, has commended President Bola Tinubu for the federal government’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Penetration Initiative, describing it as a bold step towards improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Governor Diri also said the scheme, which targets the distribution of compressed cylinders gas to vulnerable Nigerians that have long relied on firewood for cooking, would reduce wood logging, deforestation and the attendant environmental impact.
A statement by his chief press secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the Bayelsa governor as giving the commendation at the launch of the Decade of Gas: National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme, Tuesday at the Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, where Bayelsa became the first state to benefit from the state-level rollout of the initiative.
The scheme is expected to cover no fewer than 27,000 beneficiaries in the state.
Governor Diri said the programme marked a significant shift in the federal government’s approach to ensuring that communities that produce the nation’s oil and gas resources also enjoy the benefits of cleaner and safer energy.
He noted that for decades, communities in the Niger Delta suffered environmental degradation, poverty and neglect despite contributing immensely to the nation’s economy, adding that the LPG initiative signals the beginning of a positive change.
He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), development partners and sponsors for bringing the programme to Bayelsa, saying the initiative aligns with the state’s commitment to improving the quality of life of its people.
He stated that the transition from firewood to gas would not only reduce environmental degradation but also improve public health by limiting exposure to harmful smoke associated with traditional cooking methods.