Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olawale Oluwo, has declared that the recent commencement of production of crude oil in the state would generate job for the youth.
He emphasized that what the historic discovery means for Lagos is that the three Senatorial Districts, Lagos West, Lagos East and Lagos Central have all combined to open up the economic and investment potentials for the state.
The commissioner made the declaration at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa during the Y2016 Ministerial Press Briefing of the Lagos State Government in commemoration of the first year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
Oluwo said the state government has studied the downside of crude oil production especially how it has affected oil producing areas in the Niger-Delta and has tasked the Office of Civic Engagement with the onerous responsibility of involving host communities as well as using best practice in protecting the environment.
His words: “Today we continue the journey to actualize our dreams of becoming an oil producing state where human capacity, safety of investment, protection of the environment, improved relation among the government, company and host community are our main focus.
“In addition, the Ministry is proposing to host an Oil and Gas summit before the end of the year. This will afford all relevant stakeholders within the sector opportunity to deliberate on key issues in the industry with a view to enhance business growth, sustainable environment, employment generation and economic development of the State.”
While revealing that Dangote Refinery in Lekki Free Trade zone will also be coming on stream to complement the oil production by Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company, Oluwo hinted that the state was working on arrangement to concession its light-up project to private companies for sustainability purpose, adding that fifty-four (54) companies have been identified to manage different sections of the Light Up project.
Reacting to issue of vandalism and broken down streetlight poles, the commissioner explained that state is using this period to monitor and assess such cases, adding however that anyone caught vandalizing the cable will be made to re-erect another one as well as being held responsible for all associated costs.
He disclosed further that under the operation “Light up Lagos” initiative of the present administration, Lagos State Electricity Board has rehabilitated about 400 km of public lighting in 366 locations, including the rehabilitation and connection of part of the Third-Mainland Bridge to the Island Power Plant all measuring close to 600 km of roads and streets across the State.
According to him, other interventions under the initiative involve the connection of communities and important government facilities, such as hospitals and schools to either the national grid or independent power plant where applicable, thereby boosting power supply to the affected areas.