By Vivian Emoni
The IBILE Oil and Gas Corporation (IOGC), has expressed commitment to ensuring that Lagos State is transited into gas economy for affordable, sustainable and secure energy sources.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IOGC, Mrs Doyin Akinyanju, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Thursday.
Akinyanju said this was aimed at providing an alternative source of fuel and alleviating the effects of petrol subsidy removal on the people of the state..
“We have already done quite a lot of investments and this is the vision of our governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to transit the state into a gas economy as quickly as possible.
“We have been doing so for the past four years. Today, we have over seven main plants where one can take his or her cylinder to convert.
“Each plant actually serves about 10 thousand people and then we have three scales where we are going to deliver three more plants before the end of this year,’’ she said.
Akinyanju stated that the company had partnered with about 22 vehicle dealers on various conversion workshops in the state.
She said that the company had also collaborated with Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to validate and certify the conversion workshops.
“We have partnered with Costco, Subaru and a host of others to do the conversion.
“We procured four refueling stations four months ago and they are supposed to land in Lagos by the end of this year.
“With these, we are going to scale and start to convert Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and LASTMA buses,” she said.
According to her, the efforts will help the people of the state to begin to feel the reduced pricing of gas for cars and it will attract other people once we start rolling out,’’ she said.
Akinyanju said that recently, the company and five others entered into agreement with Midstream-Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) to improve Nigeria’s gas infrastructure.
She expressed gratitude for being among the selected six companies, adding that the selection was done across the country.
“I am grateful that IOGC was among the six selected companies. I cannot take it for granted. I will ensure that the project is executed and delivered effectively and on time.
“It is about what you bring to the table; the quality and the contribution you bring to the table. Don’t be at the table if you don’t have any contribution to give.
“We know how to deliver. We deliver safely and with the highest quality; so people don’t have to worry,’’ she said.
According to her, IOGC is a Lagos State-owned company, established by law in 2013, to invest and engage in oil and gas activities in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the industry.
Akinyanju said that the company focused on ensuring energy sustainability and security along the energy value chain.
The CEO said the company had been contributing to the growth and development of the state’s economy.
She further stated that the company`s mission was to build an integrated competitive oil and gas business that would consistently deliver value for stakeholders and ensure sustained positive social impacts. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)