By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), in partnership with the Akwa Ibom State Government and the Gas Aggregation Company Nigeria Ltd/GTE (GACN), has signed a $3.5 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive gas industrialisation in the state.
The agreement was signed during the opening session of the South-South Gas Utilisation Forum 2025 held Monday in Uyo. The forum was attended by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, and representatives from the governments of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Rivers States.
NNPC’s Executive Vice President, Upstream and GACN Board Chairman, Udy Ntia, led the delegation alongside Olalekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power, and New Energy.
The initiative aims to harness natural gas resources for industrial development in Nigeria’s South-South region. NNPC said the deal represents a firm commitment to sustainable energy development and economic diversification.
GACN Managing Director Chijioke Uzoho, who convened the forum, emphasized the importance of regional collaboration in maximizing gas utilisation for shared prosperity.
Ekpo, in his address, highlighted the role of gas in driving sustainable economic growth, while Akwa Ibom’s Commissioner for Economic Development, Emem Bob, representing Governor Umo Eno, reaffirmed the state’s dedication to leveraging gas for transformative development.
