…As Monarch Alloy opens plant in Lagos
By Kehinde Aderemi
President Bola Tinubu is committed to creating jobs and adding value in the oil and gas sector of Nigeria.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, made the disclosure in Lagos during the commissioning of Monarch Alloy Limited Oil and Gas Pipe Coating Facility. He assured Nigerians that the government would also give adequate support to local manufacturers and other stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.
Lokpobiri stated that Nigeria was no longer a dumping ground for foreign countries. He added that the government would not allow waivers for companies that are not ready to add values to the country. The FG, according to him, would maintain the integrity of the pipelines.
His words: “The Federal Government is not leaving any stone unturned. We will support stakeholders’ efforts in oil and gas sector, and we will create value and job opportunities for the Nigerian youth wherever they are in this country.”
The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the event by Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, promised that the state would continue to create enabling environment for business owners across the state. Managing Director of the Monarch Alloy Limited Oil and Gas Pipe Coating Facility, Atul Chaudhary, described the commissioning of the new facility as a landmark achievement.
“This is our first major step in the oil and gas sector. And we are ready to explore the sector diligently. Our plant is equipped with 3LPE and concrete weight coating facilities. We can handle pipes ranging from four to 64 inches in diameter, with an impressive annual coating capacity of two million square meters,” he said. Other guests at the commissioning include the Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Senator John Enoh; his predecessor and former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; Senator Tokunbo Abiru, representing Lagos East in the National Assembly; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Ogbe; and Ayangbunren of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi.