By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
Nigeria possesses over 200 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, ranking among the largest in Africa, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has said.
The Minister stated this Thursday the Niger State AKK Business Development Forum held in Minna.
He expressed the determination of the Federal Government go beyond mere exportation of gas to its utilisation ĺas a catalyst for industrial growth, energy access, employment creation and national prosperity.
Represented by the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Alhaji Jibrin Ndace, the Minister explained that the AKK pipeline is central to the Renewed Hope Agenda because it provides the infrastructure needed to deliver gas directly to industries, power plants and businesses, adding that, ” this will lower production costs, boosts competitiveness and expand economic opportunities for millions of Nigerians”.
“Today’s event reflects our shared commitment to unlocking Nigeria’s enormous economic potential through strategic investments, innovation, and public-private partnerships.The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline is far more than a major engineering project; it is a strategic national economic corridor that is redefining Nigeria’s energy future. Stretching over 600 kilometres, the pipeline will significantly expand domestic gas utilisation, improve energy security, stimulate industrialisation, create thousands of jobs, and attract substantial local and foreign investments across the states along its route”.
According to the Minister, under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government is implementing bold reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria as Africa’s preferred investment destination.
He listed some of the reforms producing measurable results to include, removal of long-standing structural bottlenecks to improve economic efficiency, significant reforms in the oil and gas sector to increase investment and production including the implementation of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative to provide cleaner, cheaper transportation alternatives.
He said that the Federal Government has continued investments in critical infrastructure, including roads, rail, power and digital connectivity, adding that , the role of information in this transformation cannot be overstated. Investors require confidence while citizens deserve accurate information. Businesses need policy clarity. As the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, we remain committed to ensuring that government policies, programmes and investment opportunities are effectively communicated to Nigerians and the international community”.
He added, “Through strategic communication, we will continue to promote Nigeria’s positive investment story and strengthen confidence in our economy”.
