The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of free 3kg Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders to households in Bayelsa State as part of efforts to promote clean cooking and expand access to affordable energy across Nigeria.
The State-Level LPG Cylinder Distribution Programme was launched in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, under the Decade of Gas National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme (NGLPP), an initiative designed to support the transition of five million Nigerian households to cleaner cooking energy.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the NGLPP was a flagship programme of the Federal Government aimed at accelerating the adoption of LPG as a cleaner cooking fuel.
Ekpo said the initiative would improve access to cleaner energy, enhance public health, reduce environmental degradation caused by traditional cooking fuels, empower women and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for communities across the country.
“This occasion is not merely an event; it is a landmark moment in our collective journey towards cleaner energy, healthier homes and a more prosperous nation,” the minister said.
He described Bayelsa as a significant part of the initiative’s history, having been selected as the launch state for the nationwide programme.
“At the heart of this programme lies a simple but powerful conviction: that the promise of Nigeria’s abundant natural gas must translate into dignity, safety and improved wellbeing for our people,” Ekpo added.
In his remarks, the Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas, ED Ubong, said the programme was structured to ensure that five million households would transition to cooking gas by 2030.
Ubong explained that the target translates to one million households annually, including 27,000 households in Bayelsa State.
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri commended the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the initiative would positively impact residents, particularly communities affected by environmental challenges and economic inequalities.
Diri said collaboration between the federal and state governments, development partners and sponsors remained critical to delivering sustainable energy solutions and improving the livelihoods of Nigerians.
