Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has declared his administration’s commitment to leveraging Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to alleviate rising energy costs for households, businesses, and the broader state economy. The announcement was made during the inauguration of a three-day awareness workshop on the Presidential CNG Initiative, themed “The Game Changer,” held at the BSEMA headquarters in Makurdi.
Representing the Governor at the event was Deputy Governor Dr. Sam Ode. Governor Alia emphasized that the federal adoption of CNG offers Nigerians a cleaner, more sustainable, and cost-effective energy alternative. He noted that this transition could significantly bolster agricultural production, processing, storage, and transportation sectors within the state.
The Governor described the initiative as a critical component of a broader national program aimed at providing affordable energy, particularly in response to the rising cost of transportation and its subsequent impact on the cost of living. He stated that his administration is dedicated to policies that stimulate economic activity, create employment, and improve living standards, viewing CNG as a potential catalyst for new frontiers of economic development in Benue.
According to Governor Alia, the workshop marks the start of a structured program focused on awareness, capacity building, investment mobilization, and the practical deployment of CNG across the state. He reaffirmed the state's commitment to securing the necessary partnerships, infrastructure, and capacity development to ensure CNG becomes accessible to all residents.
The CNG initiative forms part of a broader national programme aimed at providing affordable and cleaner energy, while the rising cost of transportation and its impact on the cost of living make the initiative particularly important to the state.
State officials underscored the strategic importance of the project during their remarks. Commissioner for Power, Renewable Energy and Transport, Joseph Jir, stated that the project goes beyond simply replacing petrol with gas, positioning CNG as a distinct alternative energy source that is both cleaner and potentially more affordable. Similarly, Engineer Jonathan Ashir, the State Coordinator and Technical Adviser to the Governor on National Gas and Renewable Energy, explained that the project is specifically designed to mitigate the high costs associated with using petrol and gas in business activities.
Ambassador Nicholas Agbo Ella, Chairman of the Benue State Steering Committee on Coalbed Methane and Allied Resources, added that the workshop serves to educate residents on the benefits and safety protocols of CNG, highlighting the opportunities for cheaper energy that the project presents to the local population.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
