Abuja — Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday tasked new entrant into the development of the Brass LNG project, LNG Japan Corporation, to ensure it generates employment for Nigerian youths.

Speaking at the State House, Abuja, when he received top executives of the Japanese firm on a courtesy visit, Jonathan said "this project is one that will create direct and indirect employment, and take many more unemployed people off the streets".

He recalled having discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister in May 2008 during the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 4) on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Nigeria, and noted that the interest shown by LNG Japan is a good follow-up of that initiative.

Chairman of LNG Japan Corporation, Shizuka Tamura, who led the delegation, said his company was willing to invest in the Brass project and bring "maximum value" to the people of the Niger Delta region and the oil and gas industry of Nigeria.

"Now is the right time to progress the discussions further by promoting Brass LNG as the new flagship project between Nigeria and Japan, through our participation," he stated.

Also present at the meeting were Minister of Petroleum, Rilwanu Lukman, Minister of State for Petroleum, Odein Ajumogobia, and Presidential Adviser on Petroleum Matters, Emmanuel Egbogah.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Lukman said the disappearance three months ago of about 90 million litres of petrol belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is still being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).