NBS to conduct gas, petroleum survey for database on policy formulation

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says it will carry out a survey on gas and petroleum products to build a robust oil and gas database for policy formulation and strategic planning.

It said this would promote sustainable development in the sector.

The Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, on Monday said this at the Stakeholders’ Sensitisation Workshop on the Conduct of Survey on Gas and Petroleum Products Demand, Supply and Utilisation in Nigeria.

Kale, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Corporate Planning and Technical Coordination, Mr Simon Harry, said the survey would strengthen the production, distribution, supply and consumption chain of gas and petroleum products.

He said the survey would also assist in determining the domestic volume of gas and petroleum products demand, supply and utilisation as well as exportation and importation of quantities within the study period.

According to him, the survey will promote the usage of gas domestically, export and also serve as end-point to generate relevant statistical data.

He said such data was necessary to formulate planning options for sustainable development of the oil and gas sector.

Kale said the NBS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and other relevant stakeholders, would commence the survey on May 27.

“The conduct of the survey will involve administration of questionnaires to selected households and establishments to be completed and returned to the organisers of the survey,” the statistician-general said.

Mr Samuel Golo, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, said the survey was being organised by the Consultative Committee on Petroleum Statistics (CCPS).

Golo said the CCPS, which was established by the ministry in 2008, conducted pilot survey on on Gas and Petroleum Products Demand, Supply and Utilisation in Lagos in 2014.

“The need for adequate and reliable information for proper policy formulation, strategic planning and sustainable development triggered the survey by the CCPS in one of its quarterly meetings in 2009,” he said.

(NAN)