The Federal Government (FG), on Wednesday in Lagos State commissioned five Compressed Natural Gas daughter and last-mile retail stations developed by Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation (IOGC) with the support of the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF).
Commissioning the project Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Ph.D, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), remarked that Lagos occupies a special place in the public-service journey of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that as Governor of the great State, he championed a development philosophy anchored on long-term planning, institution building, infrastructure development and the mobilisation of private capital for economic growth.
Ekpo, said that Lagos continues to reflect the importance of laying strong foundations and pursuing development with courage, foresight and consistency and that is why government is applying that same determination on a much larger canvas.
He said, “Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, the President has made it clear that Nigeria’s abundant gas resources must work for Nigerians. They must power our industries, support businesses, improve transportation, create employment and, ultimately, reduce the cost pressures faced by ordinary citizens.”
The five CNG daughter stations strategically located across Lagos State in Idimu, Alimosho Local Government Area, Ogolonto, Ikorodu West Local Government Area, Abule Egba, Alimosho Local Government Area, Ajah, Eti-Osa Local Government Area; and Oko-Oba, Agege Local Government Area.
Each facility has 24,000 standard cubic metres per day of CNG compression capacity and 9,800 standard cubic metres of storage capacity, designed specifically as a last-mile retail station serving consumers closer to where they live, work and conduct business.
Ekpo,remarked “These stations represent access. They represent affordability. And they represent the determination of government to take the benefits of Nigeria’s gas resources directly to the people.”
According to him, The President has specifically directed the expansion of CNG infrastructure nationwide, including an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations towards a planned national network of 1,000 stations, with emphasis on ensuring that the benefits translate into lower transportation costs for Nigerians.
He added that for a dynamic economy such as Lagos, the implications are significant.
He said every additional CNG station expands the ecosystem required to give motorists and commercial transport operators a viable alternative fuel and brings cleaner gas closer to the point of consumption and supports our broader objective of making CNG increasingly accessible across Nigeria.
Continuing, the minister added, Our objective is therefore not simply to count the number of stations commissioned. Success must ultimately be measured by impact: whether the infrastructure helps reduce operating costs for transporters and businesses, whether those savings reach commuters, and whether Nigerian families begin to feel tangible relief.”
He said the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), working alongside the Presidential CNG Initiative, MDGIF, State Governments, investors and other industry stakeholders, is focused on expanding refuelling and associated infrastructure so that cleaner and cheaper fuel is available closer to where Nigerians live and work.
Ekpo, commended Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation and the Lagos State Government for embracing this opportunity. This is exactly the type of Federal-State-private-sector collaboration that we must replicate across the country.
He also commended the MDGIF for continuing to perform its catalytic role, assuring that Government would continue to provide the enabling environment that allows investment to move from the drawing board to physical infrastructure and, importantly, from infrastructure to tangible benefits for our people.