The Federal Government has flagged off the state-level Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder distribution programme in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with the free distribution of cooking gas cylinders to households across the state’s eight local government areas.
The initiative is being implemented under the Decade of Gas National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme (NGLPP), a flagship intervention designed to expand access to clean, affordable cooking energy and improve the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme as a key Federal Government initiative aimed at accelerating the nationwide adoption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas as the preferred clean cooking fuel.
He said the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding energy access, improving public health, protecting the environment, and enhancing the quality of life of Nigerians through increased access to clean energy solutions.
Also speaking, the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to deepening LPG adoption across the country under the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative.
He described Bayelsa’s inclusion in the programme as a major milestone in expanding access to clean cooking energy in the Niger Delta region.
According to him, the NMDPRA will continue to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, state governments, and industry stakeholders to make LPG more accessible and affordable for households across Nigeria.
The programme is expected to encourage the transition from traditional cooking fuels to cleaner energy sources, reduce indoor air pollution, improve public health outcomes, and support the country’s energy transition and environmental sustainability goals.