Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, said the new global energy order propelled by gas resources will put an end to high fuel costs and douse concerns by environmentalists over pollution.
He spoke when he laid the foundation for $2 million first Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG) and Liquefied Compressed Natural Gas(LCNG) facility in the North Central, in Lafia, the state capital.
The project with 23 metric tonnes of LNG, 1,500 SCM LCNG capacity is to be established by Greenville LNG Limited.
He said Greenville has taken the lead in fast tracking clean gas revolution in Nigeria with establishment of many Gas Hubs that is catering to Small and Medium Enterprises and other businesses.
He said the gestures will lead to huge investment in the country’s Gas resources and drive the much needed switch to the product as alternative energy sources.
According to him, although Nigeria is noted for its oil reserve which stood at 40 billion barrels, it is more of gas nation with over 200 trillion reserve.
He said he has been nursing a long time idea where the state economy will be gas-driven.
“My dreams one day as you have arrived in Nasarawa state is to see our motorcycles are being driven on gas,” he stated, while commending Greenville LNG for making the dream a reality.
Managing director/chief executive officer of the Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA), Ibrahim Abdullah, which office spearheaded the partnership, said the project will be a springboard to other businesses as it fits into the industrialisation agenda of the Nasarawa State Government.
He said the project will usher in the introduction of LNG and LCNG usage for heavy-duty trucks, including smaller vehicles such as automobiles and Keke NAPEP in the region. The fuel prices has skyrocketed following the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2023.
“The project would also provide opportunities for investors and local businesses across the 13 local government areas of the state’s industrial and auto-gas sectors,” he said.
Also, managing director of Greenville LNG Mr. Ritu Sahajwalla, who was represented by the director of administration of the company, Mr. Joseph Oyadoyin, explained that the project would further crystalise the industrialisation drive of Governor Sule by attracting more investment to the state.
He said the company would establish another facility in Karu local government area after the completion of the first project in Lafia.
He added that the project if completed would revolutionise the transportation industry in the state by addressing fuel shortages and enhancing gas usage and distribution within the region, saying that it would extend to the North Central region of the country.
