The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd has applauded NIPCO Gas Limited as both companies signed a gas infrastructure agreement with the Lekki Free Trade Zone Development company ( LFZDC ).
According to a statement made available to the media by Mr.
Lawal Taofeek, AGM Corporate Affair of NIPCO, the agreement would enhance gas
supply to industries in the Lekki corridor of Lagos State.
The historic deal
would enable NIPCO Gas Limited to put in place necessary infrastructure in the
corridor to towards facilitating easy access to gas by industries in the zone
and it’s environs.
Managing Director, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited, Mr Justin
Ezeala, who spoke at the signing said the event was a mile stone in the annals
of gas infrastructure development in the Country, describing LFZDC as a
beautiful bride with many suitors willing to partner with in the development of
the zone.
Mr Ezeala added that with NNPC Gas Marketing as the dominant
gas company in Nigeria, it was expedient
to partner with the free zone development company to market and distribute gas
in the corridor.
“We knew the gas business revolves around us and that we
could deliver seamlessly to the myriad of industries in the zone
We came into gas business development in the zone with a big
renowned player, NIPCO Gas that is noted for its giant strides in gas marketing
and infrastructure development to enhance gas value”, he declared
Ezeala said NNPC Gas Marketing came into business with LFZDC
with extra value along side its partner – NIPCO Gas, a fully owned subsidiary
of NIPCO Plc, which is noted for its consistentcy in gas infrastructure
upgrade.
“NIPCO has exhibited giant efforts in pipeline construction
and penchant for customer collections. We have worked together for years and
they remained one of the consistent partner of ours ” Mr Ezeala noted.
He stated that he had inspected the equipment brought in by
NIPCO, saying with the signing of the agreement, NNPC Gad Marketing Limited would
encourage its partner to move to site
for quick execution of the project.
“We are proud to be associted with NIPCO in view of their
antecedents in gas infrastructure development. We have trust in them and look
forward to the commissiong of the milestone project,” he added .
In his remark at the occasion, NiPCO Gas MD, Mr
Najendra Verma said that the agreement
with LFZDC in partnership with with NNPC Gas Marketing Limited is certainly
going to attract more and more industries to set up their facilities within the zone which
will ultimately help many company in the development of the zone in an
exponential manner.
According to him, the project when completed would boost
industrialization and employment opportunities in the zone which in turn would soar
up the economy of the Country.
Verma pointed out that the agreement will be a boost to
proper harnessing of the Nigeria domestic gas and a major reduction in fuel
importation and attendant subsidies
He commended NNPC Gas Marketing firm for making NIPCO the
preferred partner in the execution of the landmark project .
In the same vein, LFZDC Managimg Director, Mr Dai Shunfa,
said the project would help the company greatly in executing its mandate of
developing and operating a modern free zone in accordance with international standards to stimulate the
Nigerian economy.
He said no fewer than 110 industries have registered in the
zone with 55 already on ground to benefit from the new deal.