Abiodun Inaugurates 150 Million Natural Gas Facility in Ogun

James Sowole in Abeojuta

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has said the 150 million Standard Cubic Feet Ibefun Natural Gas City Gate would support, drive and complement the state’s gas mobility project through which the gas powered mass transit vehicle scheme would be anchored on.

Abiodun stated this during the inauguration of the Ibefun Natural Gas City Gate in Odogbolu Local Government area of the state.

He noted also that the project would equally help the state deploy electric motorcycles that would begin the process of reducing carbon emissions. The governor pointed out that the completion of the facility, would mark another milestone in the history of gas penetration in the country and the state, adding that energy remained an important enabler in his administration’s I-S-E-Y-A mantra as encapsulated in the ‘Building Our Future Together Agenda’ of his administration.

Abiodun, who added that his administration recognised energy as key to the continued development of sectors such as agriculture, health, commerce and industry and education in the state, added that his administration cannot underestimate the importance of energy to the development of micro small and medium scale enterprises in the state.

He said, “Today’s commissioning of Ibefun Natural Gas City-Gate will support, drive and complement our administration’s gas demobility project through which we will be introducing gas powered mass transit vehicles, whilst we also begin the deployment of electric motorcycles all to reduce carbon emissions.

“Energy remains an important enabler in our I-S-E-Y-A mantra as encapsulated in our Building Our Future Together Agenda.

“While we cannot underestimate the importance of energy to the development of micro small and medium scale enterprises, it is just right to appreciate Transit Gas Nigeria Limited for this initiative and this investment that will further support the industrial revolution of Ogun State.”

While expressing optimism that the project would reinforce the commitment of his administration to find innovative solutions that would create sustainable energy for the people, Abiodun added that the commissioning of the project would sustain and improve his administration’s public-private initiatives and policy as well as support the ‘Light Up Ogun’ initiative of his administration.

He added: “According to latest official data sourced from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Ogun State is one of the top industrial hub states, we led the chart of energy consumption in Nigeria.

“This great project will reinforce our commitment to innovative solutions that create sustainable energy for the benefit of the people of the state.

“The commissioning of this project is very important to sustain and improve all our public private programmes and policies as well as supporting our ‘Light Up Ogun’  I

initiative. Also, our newly created economic industrial zones namely Ijebu, Remo Economic Zones will also offer multiplier effects by creating jobs and elevating poverty.”

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari who was represented by the Executive Director, Gas and Power, NNPC Limited, Abdulkabir Ahmed, disclosed that the country was blessed with natural gas amounting to over 200 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCL).

He added that it was imperative for players in the industry to ensure that natural gas is put to use domestically.

Kyari, who noted that the 150 million standard cubic feet Ibefun Natural Gas City-Gate, would create jobs and enhance development, added that the project couldn’t have been possible without the enabling environment provided by the Governor Abiodun-led administration in the state.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Transit Gas Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bolaji Osunsanya, who disclosed that the completion of the project would help deepen natural gas utilisation in the state, added that the project would help promote investment and contribute to job creation.

Osunsanya, also noted that the City-Gate would help improve the distribution to natural gas to end users in Sagamu gas distribution zones, all the way from interchange to J4, adding that the new point of connection in Ibefun would ensure the efficient and reliable delivery of natural gas to industries located in the state.