Bayelsa Leads the Nation as the Decade of Gas Officially Takes Off!

A new chapter in Nigeria’s energy story begins tomorrow.

On *Tuesday, July 28, 2026*, Bayelsa State will play host to the official launch of the *National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme, NGLPP*, a flagship project under the Federal Government’s *Decade of Gas Initiative*. The event marks a major milestone not just for Bayelsa, but for the entire country as we begin a deliberate push toward clean, safe, and affordable energy for every home.

For too long, millions of Nigerian households have depended on firewood, charcoal, kerosene, and other traditional cooking fuels. While these methods are common, they come with serious consequences: respiratory illnesses from smoke inhalation, time lost to fuel gathering, deforestation, and safety hazards in our kitchens. The NGLPP was designed to change that narrative, and Bayelsa has been chosen to lead the way.

This landmark programme is focused on driving the mass adoption of *Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG*, as the preferred cooking fuel at the grassroots level. LPG is cleaner. It burns with little to no smoke. It is safer when handled properly, and it is more efficient, meaning families spend less time cooking and more time on other productive activities. By making LPG accessible and affordable, we are giving families a real alternative and a path to a healthier lifestyle.

Being selected as the *first state for the nationwide rollout* is both an honour and a responsibility for Bayelsa. Tomorrow’s launch is more than a ceremony. It is the start of a transformative journey. A journey toward cleaner kitchens in our communities. A journey toward improved public health as women and children, who are most affected by indoor air pollution, begin to breathe safer air. A journey toward environmental sustainability as we reduce pressure on our forests and cut down carbon emissions. And ultimately, a journey toward greater energy access and energy justice for communities across the state, from Yenagoa to the riverine areas.

The Decade of Gas Initiative recognizes that Nigeria is a gas nation and that gas must be used to power our homes, industries, and future. The NGLPP brings that vision down to the grassroots. It is about ensuring that the benefits of gas are not limited to big industry, but that they reach the market woman, the young family, and the rural household.

As we launch in Bayelsa tomorrow, we are setting the pace for other states to follow. We are demonstrating that energy transition can start from the community level. We are showing that with the right policy, partnerships, and political will, we can move people from energy poverty to energy dignity.

I therefore call on all stakeholders — community leaders, women groups, youth organizations, LPG marketers, and relevant agencies — to embrace this programme. Let us work together to ensure proper sensitization, safe handling, and widespread adoption of LPG across Bayelsa.

Tomorrow, we light a new flame. A flame of progress, of health, and of sustainability.

Bayelsa is proud to lead. The Decade of Gas has begun, and it starts here with us.

*#DecadeOfGas #NGLPP #CleanCookingBayelsa #EnergyForAll*