THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE IMO STATE GOVERNMENT, HAS OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED THE SOUTH EAST LPG PENETRATION PROGRAMME IN OWERRI, THE STATE CAPITAL.(PHOTO).

 The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, in partnership with the Imo State Government, has officially inaugurated the South East LPG Penetration Programme in Owerri, the state capital.

The event marks the completion of the programme’s nationwide rollout across all five geopolitical zones, championing a shift towards universal clean cooking.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, detailed the ambitious goals of the initiative under the Nigeria Decade of Gas agenda.

According to him, the programme aims to transition millions of households away from harmful fuels like firewood, charcoal, and kerosene to cleaner, safer Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

He said that key national targets include the distribution of five million cylinders by 2030, converting one million homes annually, and boosting domestic LPG supply to six million metric tonnes per annum, a move expected to generate significant employment.

The minister applauded Governor Hope Uzodimma for his steadfast support, particularly for releasing state officials to ensure the programme’s success.

He, therefore, urged beneficiaries to view the cylinders as instruments of empowerment in the fight against domestic energy poverty, announcing that the large-scale distribution of 30,000 cylinders per state would commence early next year.

Governor Uzodimma, represented by the deputy governor, Dr. Chinyere Ekomaru, pledged the South East zone’s full backing and assured the security of all programme assets, and extended gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for prioritizing women’s empowerment and tackling energy poverty through such interventions, framing the initiative as a critical component of the national energy revolution.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, stressed that access to clean energy grants women time, health, and economic voice, dramatically reducing respiratory illnesses linked to traditional cooking methods.