•Governor Umo Eno (L) welcomes Minister of State for Gas, Emem Ekperikpe Ekpo
UTIBE-IMA OKON, Uyo reporting
The federal government has taken its National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme to Akwa Ibom State, with a commitment to promote cleaner cooking, expand domestic gas utilisation and empower women under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the event hosted yesterday, Thursday, August 20, 2026, in Uyo, the Honourable Minister of State for Gas, Obong Emem Ekperikpe Ekpo, in a Keynote address, said the programme was designed to move Nigerian households away from firewood, charcoal, kerosene and other traditional cooking fuels to cleaner, safer and more efficient Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG.
The minister said the initiative forms part of the federal government’s Decade of Gas Programme, with an ambition to reach all 36 states, support one million households annually and achieve five million homes by 2030.
He disclosed that 3,000 women are being empowered with ₦100,000 each to support their businesses and strengthen their families, while calling on stakeholders, development partners, financial institutions, civil society organisations and the media to take ownership of the programme.
The minister described the Uyo activation as a landmark moment and the second national LPG penetration activation after the inaugural programme in Bayelsa State on July 28, 2026.
With a grateful heart, Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, commended the federal government for bringing the initiative to the state, saying it would improve livelihoods, protect the environment and contribute to better health outcomes, particularly for rural communities.
Governor Eno said the programme was a practical demonstration of hope for the people and aligns with his administration’s people-centred development agenda.
He welcomed the wife of the Nigeria’s Senate President, Dr Unoma Akpabio, who represented the husband, Minister of State for Gas and wife, alongside other dignitaries who attended the event.
The governor declared that Akwa Ibom was ready for business and strategically positioned to attract investments in the gas sector. He urged investors to take advantage of the opportunities in the state, stressing that gas was not merely a commodity but a major driver of employment, enterprise development and economic growth.
Governor Eno further announced that his administration would, in October, empower 300 women in each of the 369 wards through women’s cooperatives. He said the beneficiaries had already undergone identification and profiling ahead of the programme.
He expressed appreciation to the federal government for the partnership and pledged the state’s continued collaboration with relevant agencies to ensure that the benefits of the gas initiative reach the grassroots.
The event therefore underscored the federal government’s drive to deepen LPG penetration, promote clean cooking and use Nigeria’s gas resources to improve livelihoods and stimulate economic opportunities across communities.
