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  • Ekpo performs Ibesikpo CNG Plant groundbreaking

    Ekpo performs Ibesikpo CNG Plant groundbreaking

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, on Friday, performed the groundbreaking ceremony for Guelph Gas Limited’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mother Station in Ibesikpo, Akwa Ibom State, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to a cleaner and more equitable energy future.

    According to a statement by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah, the Minister described CNG as a cleaner alternative to conventional fuels, noting its potential to significantly cut carbon emissions and enhance environmental health.

    Ekpo commended Guelph Gas Limited for investing in the project, calling it a sign of growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s gas industry. 

    He also highlighted the government’s efforts in creating a supportive climate for private sector involvement as key to unlocking the sector’s full potential.

    Ekpo assured that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) will provide necessary support to ensure the project’s success and similar initiatives across the country. These efforts aim to significantly boost the country’s income earnings, stimulate economic growth, and generate vast employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.

    The Minister also ommended Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for supporting investments that drive economic growth and create employment opportunities for citizens.

    “As someone who hails from this great state, I have seen firsthand the dedication of our people to development and innovation,” Ekpo said. “With its strategic location, resource wealth, and commitment to development, the state is positioned to be a key hub in Nigeria’s gas revolution,” he said.

    Read Also: Ekpo: Natural gas key to addressing Africa’s energy deficit

    Managing Director of Guelph Gas Limited, Emmanuel Bassey, thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting initiatives and policies like the Gas to Prosperity and Decade of Gas. 

    These policies have encouraged companies like Guelph Gas Limited to invest in the gas sector as Nigeria seeks to become a gas-powered economy. Bassey also thanked Ekpo for his support in bringing the CNG project to fruition.

    The three million standard cubic feet per day CNG mother station project in Ibesikpo, Akwa Ibom State, aims to supply natural gas via CNG to commercial and industrial customers in the South-South and South-Eastern parts of the country not currently connected to the country’s gas pipeline network.

    Bassey said the company was wrapping up it’s pre-development phase and had received the License to Establish, License to Construct, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval, building approval, and the Head of Terms, and also expect to sign the Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) before the end of the month, with offtake agreements already in place.

    He promised to deliver the project on schedule and to specification and assured the host community that they would not be left out in terms of social corporate responsibility while seeking their support and cooperation.

  • Ekpo: Natural gas key to addressing Africa’s energy deficit

    Ekpo: Natural gas key to addressing Africa’s energy deficit

    Africa’s energy deficit has been described as a pressing challenge that requires immediate attention. This was the submission of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, at the Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES), which began in Abuja, yesterday.

    The minister, who noted that natural gas is pivotal in bridging the energy deficit gap, said that as a transition fuel between traditional fossil fuels and renewable energy sources, natural gas is poised to play a crucial role in Africa’s energy landscape, offering a viable solution to the continent’s pressing energy challenges.

    Ekpo further stressed that energy remains essential for industrialisation, economic growth, and human development. He, however, he noted that millions of Africans, including Nigerians, lack reliable electricity.

    With Africa’s abundant gas reserves, Ekpo said it was imperative to maximise this resource to power industries, electrify communities and drive socio-economic development.

    Read Also: Hong Wai Onn’s contributions to palm oil industry

    A statement issued by the Spokesman for Minister, Louis Ibah, noted the Minister’s advocacy for strategic policies and regulatory frameworks to drive investments and accelerate the deployment of clean energy solutions. Besides, he also suggested prioritising robust policy and regulatory frameworks, including regional collaboration, gas monetisation, and public-private partnerships (PPPs).

    “Africa’s energy transformation requires a collective commitment. Governments, investors, and development partners must work together to remove bottlenecks and accelerate energy access through innovation, technology, and strategic investments,” he said.

    Ekpo highlighted Nigeria’s progress in this area, citing the Decade of Gas Initiative, which aims to position gas as a key driver of the country’s energy transition.

    “We are implementing key reforms and infrastructure projects to ensure that gas becomes a catalyst for widespread electrification and industrialisation,” he said.

  • Akwa-Ibom holds special place in Tinubu’s heart-Ekpo

    Akwa-Ibom holds special place in Tinubu’s heart-Ekpo

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo has claimed President Bola Tinubu has a special place in his heart for Akwa Ibom State.

    Ekpo made the statement while speaking to a cross section of women, youths, and community leaders in his hometown of Ikot Udom in Ika local government area.

    He said: “President Tinubu is a tested and trusted hand. He is an experienced politician and public administrator who knows where he is taking us. Be it petrol subsidy removal or the tax reform bill, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt at all times.”

    He assured the President was doing the right thing in trying to cut wastes and encourage productivity in the gas sector by removing the controversial petrol  subsidy.

    Ekpo, on another occasion where he played host to party leaders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF) at Abak, said that President Tinubu has demonstrated good faith by entrusting key and sensitive positions in his government in the hands of Akwa Ibom sons and daughters, and called on the people of the State to reciprocate the kind gesture.

    Read Also: Edo govt to fix Benin-Ekpoma federal road before Christmas

    He told the large gathering pointedly that the historic agreement signed between the BFI Group and China National Chemical Engineering Corporation (CNCEC) to restart operations at the dormant multi-billion dollar Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi was further proof.

    “It is obvious that Mr. President has a special place in his heart for us. We’re a God-fearing people. And we are known to be dependable. Let’s stand by Mr. President now and always,” he appealed.

    Corroborating the Minister, an observer at the event, NSJ King asserted: “In the annals of our national affairs, our people are always natural allies whenever trust is needed.

    “During the Nigerian civil war, it was an Akwa Ibom son, the late S. J. King that was trusted with the sensitive office of Principal Private Secretary to the then Head of State and Commander in Chief, General Yakubu Gowon. And when he left for other duties, instructively, it was another Akwa Ibom person that took up the responsibility.”

  • Ekpo assures of increased gas supply

    Ekpo assures of increased gas supply

    Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, yesterday assured that intensive work was ongoing to resolve the crisis in gas feedstock supplies to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production and distribution companies.

    Read Also: Super Eagles need home based players, not Peseiro’s sack – Ekpo

    In a statement, the Spokesman to the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Louis Mbah, Ekpo noted that the removal of subsidy on petrol by President Bola Tinubu offered tremendous opportunities for the unlocking of the country’s huge gas potential for economic growth and prosperity.

    Ekpo made this known during a tour of GreenVille LNG Limited facility in Rumuji, Rivers State.

  • Support Tinubu’s administration – Ekpo urges politicians

    Support Tinubu’s administration – Ekpo urges politicians

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo has called on politicians across the country to bury their political differences and join hands with President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to work for the common good of Nigerians.

    Ekpo, who stated this at a Thanksgiving Service held at Our Lady of Mercy Chaplaincy, Abak, Akwa Ibom state, pledged to collaborate with the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno for the growth and development of the state.

    The thanksgiving was held to commemorate Ekpo’s appointment as the minister, the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as president of the Senate, and the Supreme Court affirmation of President Tinubu’s February 25 electoral victory.

    It was Ekpo’s first visit to the state following his swearing-in as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

    A mammoth crowd had gathered at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo to herald his homecoming.

    At the church service, Ekpo who read from Psalms 126:1 said his nomination for the office of Minister could only have come from God Almighty and that he had returned to give thanks to Him.

    Read Also: APC Forum urges Akpabio, Ekpo, others to rebuild party in Akwa Ibom

    The minister, who first paid a courtesy visit to Governor Eno at Government House, Uyo before heading for the church service, said though he is of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Eno is of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it was important that those elected or nominated into public offices take a cue from President Tinubu by shunning acts that stoke hatred and division and build bridges that promote love, unity and economic prosperity of citizens.

    Ekpo said: “There must be an end to politics; we can’t continue to do politics when politics is over…the politics that we play must be the politics of the interest of the people. I am a Minister of Nigeria, and I want to assure you that I will collaborate with you for the development of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria.”

  • Ekpo: No room for state of emergency in Akwa Ibom

    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Paul Ekpo, attributes the crisis that engulfed the House of Assembly to the alleged overbearing attitude of All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders.

    The statement signed by Mr. Ini Okopido demanding that the President should declare a state of emergency in Akwa Ibom state and remove the democratically elected government of Governor Udom Emmanuel is a testimony to the veracity of our earlier announced intelligence relating to the motive of the APC in instigating violence in our state. We had mentioned that information available to us was to the effect that the chieftains of the APC are planning to instigate violent disruptions of the wheels of governance and provoke the civilian populace to react in like manner, so as to stimulate their call for the declaration of a state of emergency immediately or the rescheduling of elections in Akwa Ibom state. The APC and her chieftains have always boasted of their total reliance on federal might, which they see as their only highway to power. Having found Akwa Ibom as a very peaceful state and with no tangible reason for increased deployment of security forces to the state, the APC and their conspirators( both indigenous and exogenous) had mapped out plans to instigate crisis in different areas of the state. This plan is not new to us, as we are aware of every step of their plans and will continue to alert the public.

    On the invasion of the House of Assembly and the complicity of the Nigerian Police, it is important to state that the constitution of the country which is the operational code for all public and private persons, is clear on the steps expected of a presiding officer of any parliament, when a member of the parliament defects without any lawful justification. In our case, the Speaker of the State Assembly, we have been reliably informed had applied restraint in the declaration of the seats of the law makers until they approached the courts and judgement was given against one of the law makers and the rest teamed up with him in pursuit of an unlawful course, of attempting to prevent the House of Assembly from undertaking its legal responsibilities. It is common knowledge that as at the time the speaker acted in declaring the seats of the former members vacant, there was no subsisting injunction or legal impediment restraining him or any other person from acting in that direction. It is therefore not in doubt that the declaration of the vacancy of seats of the former members was, is and remains constitutional, lawful, legal and extant and there is nothing the APC can do about it. To compare the Akwa Ibom example with that of the National Assembly or any other assembly for that matter, is completely untenable and infantile. Juristic persons are accountable to the law and the donors of their mandate. How they choose to execute the demands of their office within the ambit of law is their prerogative. There is no valid excuse in law that since parliament A has undertaken an illegal act, or accommodated the commission of illegality, that parliament B is bound to do same.

    We were not shocked to read the chairman accuse the Governor of not being sound in mind. It is in their character to engage in gutter banter and mud bath, which is very alien to us and our clime. But if public perception is to serve as the guide, the  people who orchestrated and infact shamelessly recognized three former lawmakers who claimed to have sat and impeached a speaker, are those whom the citizenry want their mental health urgently examined. This attention must critically examine not just their intelligence quotient, but their moral quotient. The public has over the time witnessed the presence of unquenchable greed and the absence of basic intelligence and common sense in these characters, who have now congregated themselves into the APC, in a desperate conspiracy to grab power at all cost and by all means. We will be advocating that INEC should make psychiatric examination a precondition for holding executive positions in political parties. This will help to check the incursion of clothed deranged persons into the political turf.

    We call on our supporters to remain calm even in the face of unprovoked aggression by the war-minded members of the opposition. We call on security agencies to conduct their duties professionally, without political leanings.

    We commend the Speaker of the aakwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke for his maturity in handling these provocations; the remaining 20 members of the House of Assembly deserve special commendation for their courage and strength of character.

    The cynosure of good governance in Nigeria, Governor Udom Emmanuel has exhibited great restraint and maturity in the handling of the many issues that arose alongside the well choreographed and instigated crisis that was visited upon the state parliament by the APC. We know that Akwa Ibom people will continue to invest their future in the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel, conscious of the huge benefits that have accrued in the past three years and the others which are enroute.

    We call on the federal government to ignore the ill-informed demand for the declaration of a state of emergency by the APC and instead concentrate her efforts in fighting insurgents and the protection of our soldiers and other security forces, who are fighting to protect our sovereignty.

    We join the very popular demand for the redeployment of the APC-sent Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kimo whose duty in Akwa Ibom had finished with the police backed desecration of the sanctity of the House of Assembly. We appeal to the Inspector General of Police to post to our state a thoroughbred professional as Commissioner of a police to assist in the maintenance of law and order.

    We are certain that when the elections are over, everyone will join us in the victory song “Yahweh”.

     

  • Emmanuel retains Ekpo as running mate

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has picked Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo as his running mate for the 2019 governorship election.

    The Governor who presented him before the State Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Government House,  Uyo,  said his deputy had shown resilience and capacity in the discharge of his duties.

    Spotting his trademark Dakkada outfit, Emmanuel  described Ekpo in glowing terms as one whose deep commitment to the  Akwa Ibom project, had assisted the pace of development in the state since 2015.

    He added that it was important to keep a winning team and vowed to remain focused in consolidating on his achievements in office.

    Ekpo said he accepted the nomination as a responsibility to commit more to service for the people.

    “I accept this nomination as a responsibility, not for Moses Ekpo, but of service for Akwa Ibom people in interpreting the vision and dreams of Governor Udom Emmanuel for our people.”

  • A’Ibom PDP intact- Ekpo

    A’Ibom PDP intact- Ekpo

    •Dismisses reports of mass defection
    •Says APC deceiving the masses

    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in  Akwa Ibom State, Obong Paul Ekpo, has dismissed reports of mass defection of members of his party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Addressing party supporters at a rally in Uyo yesterday, Ekpo said reports of mass defection from the PDP to APC in the state totally false, unfounded and a mere propaganda.

    He said the intention was to deceive the people.

    He maintained that the strength of the party was demonstrated earlier when at very short notice hundreds of thousands of supporters from within Uyo and environs emptied into the streets to welcome Governor Udom Emmanuel back to the State after the Governorship Elections Tribunal ordered re-run election in some local government areas of the state.

    He therefore charged party faithful to remain  strong, united and undaunted as the PDP will continue to lead the state with a governor whose objective is to deliver superior performance.

  • 2015 AFCON qualifiers: Eagles’ results unacceptable – Ekpo

    2015 AFCON qualifiers: Eagles’ results unacceptable – Ekpo

    Ex-international, Friday Ekpo has described the Eagles one point from their two AFCON 2015 qualifiers as unacceptable after they lost to Congo in Calabar (2-3) and drew with South Africa (0-0) in Cape Town.

    Ekpo merely suggested figuratively that the players spill blood in their next match against Sudan if it will secure all three points for the team.

    “One point is not good for us; we have lost about five points already but right now, we need to work hard and even spill our blood if need be to get the three points at stake.”

    Nigeria will be away to play Sudan on October 10 while Congo will receive visitors, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

     

  • Chukwu, Ekpo rule Norway

    Chukwu, Ekpo rule Norway

    Daniel Chima Chukwu and Emmanuel Ekpo won this year’s Norway Cup after their club,Molde beat Rosenborg 4-1 in the final.

    Chima and Ekpo featured for Molde, while John Chibuike was on from start to finish for Rosenborg.

    Chibuike told MTNFootball.com he does not know how to describe the cup final, which Rosenborg ought to have won but for hard luck.

    “I don’t know how to describe the loss. I think it was hard luck. We did our best to win the game, we led the game 2-1 till the 70th minute. I can’t just explain,” Chibuike said.

    By this triumph, Molde will feature in next season’s UEFA Europa League.