Decade Of Gas Secretariat, Pi-CNG, EV Deepen Energy Transition Awareness Among Rivers Journalists
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Itode Akari
PORT HARCOURT – The Decade of Gas Secretariat, in partnership with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG and EV), has stepped up efforts to enhance media understanding of Nigeria’s energy transition by training journalists in Rivers State on the country’s gas development agenda.
The media capacity-building workshop, held in Port Harcourt on Friday, brought together 30 journalists from print, broadcast and digital media organisations to broaden their knowledge of the strategic role of natural gas in promoting economic growth, energy security, industrialisation, job creation and improved living standards.
Addressing participants, Mr. Taofeek Balogun of the Decade of Gas Secretariat said the Port Harcourt workshop marked the third in a nationwide series of media engagements that began in 2025, following earlier editions in Lagos and Abuja.
He explained that the initiative is aimed at equipping journalists with the knowledge required to effectively communicate developments in Nigeria’s gas sector and support public understanding of the country’s transition to a gas-powered economy.
Balogun said Nigeria’s gas industry has continued to record notable progress, with year-to-date production reaching 7.85 billion standard cubic feet per day (bcfd). He added that domestic gas utilisation has exceeded 2 bcfd, while gas exports have risen to their highest level in five years due to increased demand from the power, industrial, transportation, export and residential sectors.
He further identified the completion of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) River Niger Crossing by NGIC/NNPCL as a landmark achievement that will strengthen gas transmission infrastructure, enhance energy security, attract investments and drive industrial development across the country.
Speaking on domestic gas utilisation, Balogun reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to clean cooking energy, noting that the target is to distribute cooking gas cylinders to five million households by 2030.
He disclosed that after the successful launch of the programme across the six geopolitical zones by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, implementation would commence at the state level, with Bayelsa State set to become the first beneficiary in July 2026.
According to him, 27,000 households in Bayelsa State are expected to receive cooking gas cylinders this year under the government’s one million homes annually initiative.
Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer of Pi-CNG & EV, Mr. Tosin Coker, said the Federal Government is expanding the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles as part of efforts to provide cleaner, cheaper and more sustainable transportation options for Nigerians.
Coker revealed that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are being encouraged to convert their existing vehicle fleets to CNG and procure CNG-powered vehicles to reduce transportation costs and improve energy efficiency.
He added that over 100,000 vehicles have so far been converted to CNG nationwide under the initiative, underscoring growing public acceptance of alternative fuels and supporting Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy.
Participants praised the workshop for enhancing journalists’ capacity to report accurately on developments in the energy sector and increasing public awareness of Nigeria’s energy transition agenda.
The Decade of Gas Secretariat and Pi-CNG & EV reaffirmed their commitment to sustained stakeholder engagement and public enlightenment as the country continues its drive towards a gas-powered economy.
