With the price of kerosene still beyond the reach of the average Nigerian ,Lagos State Government has urged Lagosians to embrace the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) popularly refered to as cooking gas as an alternative to kerosene and other petroleum products for a clean and green environment.
This Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engineer Taofiq Ajibade Tijani, stated this at a public private sector forum organised recently by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Lagos.
He revealed that the present administration in partnership with private investors planned to introduce LPG into one million homes in five years and five millions homes in ten years.
According to him: “Government plans to encourage private investors to inject an estimated 2.3million of gas cylinders/ cookers into Lagos homes as a way of addressing the shortage of gas cylinders currently been experienced.
“Also the State will facilitate the establishment of 200 auto gas conversion workshops and facilitate the establishment of 200 cylinder maintenance workshop in Lagos State.”
Tijani who doubled as a guest speaker at the event said the use of LPG was an acceptable alternative because it’s a clean fuel which burns clearly with no smoke or residual substance, adding that it has a relatively low pollutant emission, low green house gas(GHG) emission which help to fight deforestation.
Giving credence to the increasing call for lagosians to embrace the use of LPG, the commissioner said it would provide better and cheaper substitute, and reduce health risks of Lagosians.
He said it would expand the economy through greater commercial and industrial activities as well as reduce poverty and unemployment through massive job creation.
In a keynote address, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Ajoke Orelope Adefulire, who was the special guest of honour commended the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry for organising such a forum which has seen the state join the rest of the developed world in the use of a more efficient source of energy.
She advised other states and indeed the federal government to borrow a leaf from Lagos in ensuring a cleaner and greener environment.
She explained that cooking gas was a good source of clean and portable fuel energy for millions of people around the world which help to protect the environment from pollution, deforestation and green house gas formation.
“Nigeria being a gas country with an estimated 4 million tons of cooking gas annually, has the lowest consumption rate in the sub region and do not have access to quality modern energy services.
“ In the light of this kind of situation in our State, every effort put in place to ensure that the economy of every Lagosians and indeed the entire state economy benefit maximally from the opportunities that are presented by gas usage should be encouraged,” she added.
She also advocated the use of gas for other purposes.