Former Petroleum Minister, Atuekong Don Etiebet has felicitated Ekperikpe Ekpo on his appointment as the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), saying this has justified his effort in setting up the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Project 31 years ago.
Etiebet who was Minister of Petroleum Resources and Mineral Resources from August 1993 to February, 1995 congratulated Ekpo sworn into office by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, August 21 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In his congratulatory message made available to Straightnews in Uyo, Etiebet said ‘‘I hereby send this message to congratulate Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo on his swearing-in Monday by Mr President as the Minister of State , Petroleum Resources (Gas).
Also read: Nigeria explores paltry 1.7% gas reserves – Ekpo reveals
‘‘On his assignment to this ministry and in charge of Gas Resources, I sent him a congratulatory message in which I said he would be the new face of Nigeria’s development and economic turnaround as Gas is the emerging source of clean energy with enormous varied applications in many sectors of industrialisation and domestication throughout the world.’’
According to him, ‘‘When I set up the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Project in 1994 as Minister of Petroleum, not many appreciated it then but today it is the most talked about successful Public/Private Partnership Project, contributing substantially to the country’s GDP.’’
The Commander of Niger holder commended the President appointment of son of Akwa Ibom being a gas province in the country.
‘‘It is my pleasure to applaud President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding an Akwa Ibomite worthy to engineer this new era of gas revolution in the 21st century Nigeria’s development strides. And with Akwa Ibom being a prolific gas province in the country, Ekperikpe Ekpo’s assignment is God sent for Akwa Ibom considering also the fact that an OIL and GAS EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE has been approved for the State,’’ he stated.
In joining many others in Akwa Ibom and Nigeria in general in wishing Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo great success in this great assignment, Etiebet prayed God to bless and guide him in the new, onerous task to fulfilment.
