The latest announcement that Nigeria is set to become the world's second fastest growing LNG supplier after Qatar should encourage the training of local people, one report has said.

In order to sustain such growth, the Federal Government should promote and encourage the training of Nigerians so that they possess the specialised and technical skills needed to work in gas production, Nigeria's Financial Standard said.

Such gas education and training would loosen the dependence on expatriates who boast the required skills, the newspaper claimed. With gas reserves estimated to stand at 600 trillion cubic feet, skilled manpower is essential.

"Apart from saving the country valuable foreign exchange, developing a critical mass of competent Nigerians in the sector will aid the growth of technology in the country," it noted.

A broad agreement signed by General Electric (GE) and the Nigerian authorities to develop healthcare infrastructure, power generation and transportation will also include a new integrity training programme, GE's vice-chairman John Rice told Bloomberg.

Oil & Gas Directory: Training & Development