Minister reiterates FG’s commitment to make CNG affordable
By Zubairu Idris
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to make Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) affordable to boost businesses, transportation and stimulate economic activities in the country.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, stated this on Tuesday in Kano, at the inauguration of two CNG Stations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CNG Mother Station in Tamburawa and another CNG Station at Hotoro Quarters, were established by the Rolling Energy Ltd, with the support of the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF).
The minister said the facilities demonstrated the complete philosophy of the administration’s domestic gas agenda.
He said the agenda was building the infrastructure to receive and distribute gas, while simultaneously creating the last-mile outlets that make the product accessible to Nigerians.
“President has charged us to that we must move from policies to projects, from plans to infrastructure and from gas reserves beneath our soil to affordable energy that actually reaches our homes businesses and industries and transportation system,” he said
According to him, the first one is a 300,000 standard cubic metres per day CNG distribution hub, providing integrated LNG storage, regastification and CNG distribution capacity including the ability to supply daughter stations.
The minister added that the other one at Hotoro was a 21,000 standard cubic metres per day LCNG daughter and retail station designed to bring gas closer to end users.
He said that was why the role of MDGIF was so critical, adding that the government would continue to provide private capital and infrastructure to transform those policies into benefits that Nigerians can see, use and feel.
In his remarks, the Executive Director, MDGIF, Oluwole Adama, said that Kano was a vital centre of trade, manufacturing and transportation where vehicles carry people, farm produce and goods and services across the country.
He said that reliable access to gas could make a real difference to those journeys and to businesses that depend on them.
Adama said that the two stations could refuel up to 2,500 cars and tricycles every day.
“That is nearly two vehicles every single minute, day and night. For taxi driver who starts work before dawn, that means less time in the queue and more time on the road earning a living,” he said.
He noted that for transporters, it was another reliable source of affordable alternative fuel, for traders it means goods moving faster and at lower cost, for the young, it means skills and jobs creation.
The executive director therefore encouraged fleet owners, transport unions and businesses to make use of the opportunity.
The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Mubarak Umar-Dambatta, commended the minister and the Executive Director, MDGIF for their support in making the project a reality.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Power, Sani Gaddafi-Shehu, said that the state government would continue to support initiatives that would ease doing business in the state.
He stressed the need for more collaboration with the relevant authorities to enhance economic activities and improve the living condition of the people.
Comments