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Sanwo-Olu to federal agencies: Cut red tape, fast-track clean energy drive
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on federal regulatory agencies to accelerate approvals and deepen collaboration with state governments to fast-track Nigeria’s transition to cleaner, more affordable and sustainable energy.
The governor made the appeal while inaugurating Nigeria’s first integrated energy hub, developed by the Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation (IOGC) in Oshodi, Lagos, describing the facility as a landmark investment that reinforces the country’s energy transition agenda and strengthens energy security.
Sanwo-Olu said the project represents a practical demonstration of the Federal Government’s clean energy policy and urged agencies under the Presidency to support and replicate similar initiatives across the country.
He specifically called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and other relevant institutions to work more closely with states willing to invest in cleaner energy infrastructure.
“Energy transition is real. The message to all the federal agencies is simple: come and see what we have done here and support those who are ready to invest.
“Let us remove unnecessary delays and make the transition easier for Nigerians,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to partnering with the Federal Government and the private sector to promote cleaner energy, affordable transportation and sustainable economic growth.
He described the facility as a one-stop energy solution that combines Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), electric vehicle charging infrastructure and solar power generation.
According to the governor, affordable transportation remains critical to economic growth, noting that lower energy costs would improve business competitiveness while enhancing the quality of life for residents.
“When transportation becomes more efficient and affordable, businesses become more competitive, commercial activities expand and residents enjoy a better quality of life. That is the vision this project represents,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also commended President Bola Tinubu for providing the policy direction through the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, which he said has created an enabling environment for cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.
He praised the management of Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation for its innovation, noting that the integrated energy hub would attract investment, create jobs and further strengthen Lagos’ economy.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation, Mr. Temitayo Gbajumo, described the project as the first integrated energy hub in Nigeria—and possibly Africa—to combine conventional and alternative energy solutions within a single facility.
He said the project aligns with the Federal Government’s Compressed Natural Gas Initiative and forms part of the corporation’s broader strategy to expand alternative energy infrastructure across Lagos State.
“This is the first integrated energy hub of its kind in Lagos and Nigeria. It brings together CNG, LPG, EV charging, PMS and AGO in one location,” Gbajumo said.
According to him, the facility is designed to serve hundreds of vehicles daily, with the petrol and diesel section expected to handle between 200 and 300 vehicles each day, while the CNG station has a dispensing capacity of about 7,000 Standard Cubic Metres (SCM) daily.
Gbajumo disclosed that the corporation plans to establish 19 CNG stations across Lagos, with four already operational in Agege, Ikota, Ogudu and Ojota, while 12 others are at various stages of development.
He said four additional stations would become operational by October, while six more are currently under construction, with the goal of completing all 19 stations before the end of the year.
The expansion, he added, will subsequently extend to Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry before spreading to other parts of the country.
Gbajumo further disclosed that the energy hub houses a cooking gas plant and a vehicle conversion centre where motorists can convert petrol-powered vehicles to CNG at subsidised rates.
“We currently charge N700,000 for the conversion kit and installation. The objective is to make the transition to cleaner and more affordable energy easier for Lagos residents,” he said.
He noted that public acceptance of CNG continues to grow, with the corporation’s existing stations operating close to capacity by serving between 200 and 300 tricycles, cars and trucks daily while dispensing an average of 5,000 SCM of gas every day.