29th July, 2011
Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun has called for improved investment in the gas sector as it remains a veritable alternative source of energy in Nigeria.
He made the call while addressing a delegation from Shell Nigeria Gas, led by its Managing Director, Mr. Philip Msebila, during a courtesy call to the Governor’s office in Abeokuta on Thursday.
Amosun maintained that improved infrastructure in the gas sector remains the only option in tackling epileptic power challenge identified as the bane of national development.
The governor urged the team to take advantage of the massive network of gas pipelines in the state by creating a conducive atmosphere for collaboration with industries located within its radius.
He added that agriculture and industrialization remain key components in his administration’s drive to rebuild the state, reaffirming its readiness to partner with genuine stakeholders towards realising that vision.
Sen. Amosun called for significant improvement in the company’s local content policy by granting employment to increased number of indigenes of the state.
Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas, Mr. Philip Msebila, explained that the company commenced gas operations in Nigeria 10 years ago and had since registered its presence in the state.
He urged the present administration in the state to build upon the mutual understanding between both parties and use it as a platform to launch the state as a manufacturing hub in the country.
Also, the governor announced his administration’s readiness to partner with Stanbic/IBTC bank towards the development of the agricultural sector in the state.
The governor was speaking when he met with the top hierarchy of the bank led by its Managing Director, Mrs. Sola David-Bohra in his office yesterday.
Amosun said revival of the agricultural sector remains one of the cardinal programmes of his administration and wants the bank to be a partner in the scheme.
According to him, “I will really want us to be partners in the area of agriculture. This is because agriculture is a big revenue earner and it has massive potential in creating employment.â€
Amosun, who praised the bank for its track record in banking excellence, further called on its management to increase its presence in the state.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the bank, Mrs. David-Borha, had informed the governor that apart from agriculture, the bank was ready to partner with the government in other areas like road construction and rail transportation.
She revealed that her bank and the Lagos state government are presently collaborating in several areas such as road construction as well as its proposed metroline project, stressing that the bank would be willing to extend a similar gesture to Ogun state.
—Abiodun Onafuye, Abeokuta