IMO SEEKS PARTNERSHIP TO EXPLOIT ITS GAS RESERVES, END GAS FLARING

REPORTER: CHUKWUKA AGUKWE

Imo State Government says it is ready to partner the Federal Government and any serious private institutions interested in productively exploiting the gas reserve in the state.

According to the government, it would significantly reduce or eliminate the gas flaring, develop the gas base industry to increase youth employment and enhance economic growth of the state.

Governor Hope Uzodinma made this known while declaring open Sensitization Forum for Stakeholders on Institution of Diversification of the Economy Using Natural Gas in Owerri.

The Governor represented by his Deputy, Professor Placcid Njoku, noted that Imo State is happy with the concious advocacy to impact institutions as well as diversify the use of natural gas in Imo and Nigeria at large.

Ealier in a keynote address, the Chairman Gas Monitoring Committee, Mr. Patrick Mgbebu, explained that the Federal Government empowered the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to monitor revenue accruals into and disbursement from the federation account.

Mr. Mgbebu said that the major benefit derivable from the diversification of the economy in the natural gas sector was the increase in revenue generation and generation of employment opportunities to the teeming youths.

According to the Gas Monitoring Committee Chairman, the commission has the power to advise the federal and state governments on fiscal efficiency and methods by which their revenue can be increased.