10 September 2011, Sweetcrude, Abuja- The Nigerian government’s gas project is designed to engage youths in gainful employment, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke has said.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday at the ongoing sectoral presentations to mark President Goodluck Jonathan’s 100 days in office, the minister said the project would create direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians, especially in the downstream sector of the industry.
She stated that while the government would always provide the enabling environment for job opportunities, youths should strive to make themselves suitable for employment.
President Goodluck Jonathan had in March launched the multimillion-dollar project expected to create more than 500,000 jobs.
The minister also presented the ministry’s score card in the last 100 days of the administration, saying “what we have done in the oil and gas industry is unprecedented in the history of this country.
“No one can reel out in details what we have done in terms of creating jobs for our youths. It is left for them to fit into this initiative.”
She said the president’s Transformation Agenda had brought stability and efficiency to the upstream, mid stream and downstream sector of the industry.
Alison-Madueke said this was evident in the increased oil production and the gradual implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Law.
She also said the 20,000 jobs created through the initiative were part of the numerous opportunities that would be available in the industry.
