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Distinguished Senator Alphonsus Ubanesse Igbeke, Lead Consultant to the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), has commended the Federal Government for its support for grassroots Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) penetration, describing it as a decisive step toward advancing clean-cooking solutions and sustainable energy access across Nigeria.

Senator Igbeke took a leading role in championing Nigeria’s clean-cooking revolution as he spearheaded the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP)/ALGON Technical Working Group during the launch of the South-East LPG Penetration Programme and Cylinder Distribution. The landmark event, hosted at the Landmark Event Center in Owerri by the Imo State Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Imo State Government off-takers, marked what was described as “a decisive step in the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative.”

According to the press release, the Decade of Gas is “a strategic vehicle of private oil and gas stakeholders, launched in Nigeria to harness the country’s vast natural gas resources for economic growth and energy transition, with significant advancements targeted by 2030.” The Owerri launch was therefore positioned as a major milestone in translating national policy into tangible benefits for local communities, particularly in the South-East.

Speaking at the event, Senator Igbeke, who is “widely recognized for his grassroots advocacy,” emphasized the need for strong intergovernmental cooperation to ensure that LPG reaches households across the country. He described the programme as “a cornerstone of Nigeria’s clean-cooking transition,” explaining that it is “designed to convert one million homes annually from traditional cooking methods to LPG, with the ambition of reaching over five million households nationwide by 2030.”

Earlier at the ceremony, the Imo State Governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Chinyere Ekomaru, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and to His Excellency Senator Dr. Hope Uzodimma for what she described as “such a timely intervention.” She pledged the support of Imolites and beneficiaries of the programme, noting that “vulnerable women and families are core beneficiaries.” Mrs. Ekomaru further affirmed that “Imo State will continue to align its policy direction with that of the Federal Government, which shares a similar vision for sustainable energy and grassroots development.”

In his remarks, Senator Igbeke also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said “has created an enabling environment for sustainable energy access, particularly for rural communities.” He commended the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Ph.D.), and the Permanent Secretary “for their unwavering support in driving the initiative to the grassroots.”

The press release noted that the NGEP/ALGON Technical Working Group, under Senator Igbeke’s leadership, “continues to expand natural-gas infrastructure across Nigeria, ensuring its use among vulnerable populations while aligning with national energy-security goals.” With the launch of the South-East LPG Penetration Programme, the group was said to be reinforcing “its role as the primary vehicle for delivering clean-cooking solutions to local communities,” while also “guaranteeing safe handling of LPG through manpower training, advocacy, risk analysis, and community engagement.”

Describing the initiative as symbolic of inclusive development, the statement said, “The South-East LPG Penetration Programme stands as a testament to the Chairman’s NGEP/ALGON TWG commitment to inclusive energy strategies and his determination to ensure that no community is left behind in Nigeria’s journey toward sustainable domestic energy.”

Senator Igbeke also acknowledged institutional support for the programme, thanking the ALGON National President, Hon. (Engr.) Bello Lawal, “for providing the enabling environment for women in local governments to take advantage of LPG distribution and extend clean-cooking solutions to rural households and communities nationwide.” The ALGON Lead Consultant was accompanied at the event by the ALGON Director of Finance and Accounts, Mallam Nuhu Ozigi.

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