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OPEC Commends Buhari At Nigeria’s ‘Decade Of Gas’ Summit

By Teddy Nwanunobi

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari taking the bold steps to invest in critical gas projects in the country.

“I would like to commend the President for keeping faith with the requirements of continued heavy investments, including critical gas projects, such as the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Natural Gas Pipeline, the Nigeria LNG Train 7 project and actively promoting several fertilizer blending plants across the country, supporting the ongoing agrarian revolution,” OPEC’s Secretary General, HE Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, said on Monday in his goodwill message to the virtual Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) 2021 Pre-Summit Conference and official launch of ‘The Decade of Gas’.

Barkindo noted that the ‘Decade of Gas’ from 2021-to-2030 looks to place Nigeria at the forefront of this vital global industry.

“From OPEC, I would also like to express our deep gratitude to the President, who has long been an advocate, including as Minister of Petroleum and Head of Nigeria’s Delegation to OPEC, in the Organisation’s overarching commitment to sustainable market stability.

“This was clearly on display during the unprecedented oil market slump in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the President playing a leadership role in unifying the commitment of participants in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) and, in turn, helping pull the industry back from the brink.

“We continue to strongly follow his consensus-building footsteps that came to the fore during his tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources during the late 1970s.

“The President has been witness to many great moments in OPEC’s history, and Nigeria’s role in these. Our great country celebrates its 50-year anniversary of OPEC membership in July this year.  It has been both a leader and bridge builder over the past five decades, and this continues under President Muhammadu Buhari,” Barkindo said.

He mentioned the global importance of the event.

“The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that seeks to comprehensively reform Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is currently moving through the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly, and thus the ‘Decade of Gas’ is both timely and relevant. The importance is also evident from OPEC’s World Oil Outlook (WOO).

“Nigeria’s ‘Decade of Gas’ initiative also shines a beacon of light on the importance of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), and the value of multilateralism. OPEC and the GECF have much in common. We have some of the same member countries, including Nigeria, share similar founding principles, and collaborate together.

“Gas is vital to Nigeria’s future, as is oil. And both will be fuels of choice globally for the foreseeable future and instrumental in facilitating the energy transition.

“What is clear is that no-one should be left behind. Sustainable Development Goal number seven of the UN ensures access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all people of the world,” he added.

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