Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal Government has launched the South-East phase of its Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, Penetration Programme, marking the completion of nationwide rollout under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Decade of Gas Agenda.
Speaking at the inauguration in Owerri, Imo State, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the initiative represents a decisive economic and public-health intervention aimed at transitioning millions of households to cleaner, safer energy.
“This rollout is more than distributing cylinders; it is our deliberate commitment to improving the health, safety and economic well-being of our people,” Ekpo said.
“Clean cooking is a life-changing intervention. It reduces respiratory diseases, protects our forests, strengthens household economies and creates opportunities for women and youth across the value chain.”
With the South-East launch, all six geopolitical zones—North Central, South-South, South-West, North-East, North-West and now the South-East—have been covered.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s target of transitioning five million households to clean cooking by 2030.
Ekpo commended the Imo State Government for what he described as strong institutional support.
“I appreciate the Imo State Government for its collaboration, and thank Governor Hope Uzodinma, ably represented by his deputy, for supporting this programme,” he stated.
He also lauded the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, for her sustained advocacy. “Her unwavering commitment to clean and safe cooking for women and children has been pivotal,” he added.
According to the minister, the LPG Penetration Programme is designed to reduce reliance on firewood and kerosene, fuels that worsen deforestation, household poverty and health risks, while stimulating investments in the LPG supply chain.
“This is how we build a healthier, cleaner and more prosperous Nigeria, one household at a time,” Ekpo said.
