The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun, Delta State, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, has commended the federal government’s policy on commercialisation of gas; stating that the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline project will drastically reduce gas flaring in Nigeria and enhance the value chain of gas utilisation in the country.
Speaking at the annual International Environmental Management Stakeholders’ Conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Environmental and Public Health Management of Nigeria held at FUPRE, Prof. Rim-Rukeh stated that the discovery of oil in Oloibiri in 1958 was a welcome development, but lamented that the interest was only on crude oil, with gas left to flare without considering environmental issues of the action.
He noted that the gas policy will impact positively on not just the economy, but the environment as well.
The university don also said that commercialisation of gas resources in the country will augment efforts at ensuring safe environment for the citizens, especially those who live in areas of petroleum exploration and production.
He noted that the quality of air the people breathe, the food they eat and the water they drink are directly linked to the environment and as such, matters of environmental sustainability should not be relegated.