By Chidiebere Nwabueze Udekwe
Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja congratulates the newly inaugurated Board Members of the South-East Development Commission and extends commendation to His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR on the successful inauguration of the Board of the South East Development Commission. This significant step marks a new chapter in the development and progress of the South East region.
We acknowledge the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Emeka Nworgu for his insightful thank you speech, where he highlighted that the Commission will address the critical issue of pipeline infrastructure in the South East. We strongly advocate that it is very imperative that the Board prioritizes this matter, as the exclusion of the South East from the nation’s high-pressure gas pipeline infrastructure has long been a concern. Addressing this issue will not only drive industrialization and economic growth in the region but also ensure equitable development across Nigeria.
Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja consequently urges the Board to take immediate and decisive action to include the South East in the national pipeline projects and to advocate for the region’s interests in all future development plans. We further call on the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to urgently commission and facilitate the construction of gas pipelines through the Southeast.
The Southeast is rich in natural resources, particularly in terms of natural gas production. Our region is endowed with vast reserves that have the potential to transform our energy landscape. Despite this abundance, however, our region continues to lag significantly in developing the necessary infrastructure required to support, transport, and harness these valuable resources effectively. The glaring absence of a well-connected gas pipeline network severely restricts our access to affordable and reliable energy, stifling economic growth and progress. This limitation presents significant challenges to industries and businesses that rely on natural gas as a key input for their operations, and it poses a substantial barrier to attracting new investment.
The Southeast being a significant producer of natural gas, remains the only region without a high-pressure gas transmission pipeline. The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project, which runs through Ajaokuta, Kano, and Kaduna, and its second phase extending to Gusau in Zamfara State, highlights the stark disparity in infrastructure development. This project includes benefits such as pressure metering and reduction stations in Gwagwalada for Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Gusau.
In 2007, the Nigerian Gas Master Plan, designed by Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, proposed a 121 km pipeline extending from Aba in Abia State to Owerri, Enugu, Onitsha, and Nnewi. However, the government’s proposal for a Trans-Nigeria Gas Pipeline (TNGP) extension from Abia State to Ajaokuta, with a second phase from Abia State to Enugu and then Ajaokuta, diverts gas away from the Southeast. This diversion deprives the Southeast of the benefits and utilization of natural gas, including power generation, industrial growth, job creation and other essential services. Natural gas is a crucial driver for economic development, and the absence of a pipeline infrastructure significantly hampers the region’s potential.
The Economic opportunities, growth and the benefits of investing in comprehensive pipeline infrastructure are manifold and far-reaching. A well-designed and expansive gas pipeline network can attract investments, new businesses while supporting the growth and expansion of existing industries, job creation, stimulate local economies, and uplift the standard of living for countless families. With enhanced pipeline connectivity and infrastructure, energy costs will be reduced for households, small businesses, and larger industrial consumers alike resulting in increased disposable income and more resources for businesses, and economic vibrancy. It is essential to recognize that natural gas presents a cleaner alternative to oil, and by improving and expanding gas infrastructure national and global environmental targets are met.
This infrastructure deficit has profound implications for the region’s economic integration, transformation, and development. The Southeast Development Commission, the Governors of the Southeast, and the Federal Government of Nigeria must address this issue to ensure equitable distribution of resources and promote regional development.
We further call on the Southeast Caucus of the National Assembly, the Southeast Governors, and all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company, to address this critical infrastructure gap. The Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company should immediately prioritize the commissioning and construction of gas pipelines through the Southeast to harness the region’s natural gas resources for the benefit of its people and the nation as a whole.
We recommend the commissioning of a feasibility study to assess the technical and economic viability of extending high-pressure gas pipelines through the Southeast. We note that there is need for a proactive engagement with the Federal ministries and agencies as well as regulatory bodies to organize a stakeholder forum to discuss and strategize on the implementation of gas pipeline infrastructure in the Southeast Region.
The Southeast region’s exclusion from the national gas pipeline network is a significant oversight that is unacceptable and must be corrected. By ensuring equitable distribution of resources and infrastructure, the region’s full economic potential will be unlocked and to contribute to the overall development of Nigeria.
We therefore urge all relevant parties to prioritize this initiative and work collaboratively towards achieving a robust and comprehensive gas pipeline infrastructure in the Southeast.
Chidiebere Nwabueze Udekwe
PRESIDENT
Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja
