By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor.
The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has said that the state is ready to deliver clean energy to its fast-expanding industrial hub after the massive natural gas distribution projects presently being implemented in some parts of the territory.
Abiodun, while commissioning the Ibefun project, which has the capacity of 150 million metric standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of natural gas and was executed by NNPC’s Nigerian Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) and its joint venture (JV) partner, Transit Gas Nigeria Limited (TGNL), said his administration is promoting industrial revolution to create jobs, as well as improve the government’s revenue generation.
He said that the industrial hub in the state would from now on, be provided with clean and stable alternative energy. According to him, the state is the highest consumer of electricity due to its huge industrial base, and this is based on data released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The Governor said that with a steady gas supply, more industries will move to establish their presence within the Ogun, while Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will also begin to grow.
The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, in his remarks at the commissioning, stated that the project will promote and integrate the use of gas domestically, as well as generate power for industries that will eventually lead to economic growth and prosperity for not only people in Ogun State but also people in Nigeria as a whole.
Kyari, who was represented by NNPC Vice President, Gas and Power, Abdulkabir Ahmed, said that despite Nigeria’s huge natural gas, there are challenges in domestically utilizing it.
In his own words, “in this regard, it has become imperative for players in the industry to tighten up their belt and ensure that this abandon resources is put to use domestically.”
The GCEO pointed out that the natural gas facility will be an additional achievement to the “Decade of Gas” that was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the prosperity of Nigeria.