Gas supply, debt reduction, peace in N/Delta help boost power generation
The hope of improved electricity generation in the West African sub region is now very bright as the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company (WAGPC) said that things have really improved in term of gas supply and settlement of debts by off takers.
The relative peace enjoined in the Niger Delta has also helped the operations of the company as the level of disruption to gas pipelines by militants have been low this year when compared to the previous years.
According Harriet Wereko-Brobby, the general manager, Corporate Affairs of the company, she said the off takers are now paying for the gas they consumed. While the legacy debt has been reduced drastically and also ring fenced. So the company is making money through the gas it delivers currently.
“Because of this, it has also been able to honour it obligations to its shareholders. This year the company has been making the quarterly payment is suppose to make to its shareholders”.
The company started with N-Gas being it sole shipper of gas from Nigeria to the regional gas company but it has now registered other shippers on the pipeline. About four new companies have come on board by expressing interest to ship gas from the Niger Delta through the WAGPC pipeline
It recently signed an agreement with one of them, Axxela Limited to transport gas through the pipeline.
She also said the company’s operational team has been able to make some modifications at the various substations. This would enable the company pick gas even when the pressure is low. This is unlike before when the company was restricted in the amount of gas it can actually pick . So anytime the pressure was low from supply from supply end the company was always at a disadvantage. With the modifications, it is now able to flow whatever gas that is nominated in the pipeline.
It has also expanded the facility in Tema , Ghana which is the largest off taker from WAGPC.
Meanwhile the company has invested over N400m in community youth empowerment scheme within its host communities to boost capacity development.
It disclosed this at the official handing over of start-up tools to beneficiaries in Otta, Ogun State
The WAGPC livelihood program was tagged “Community Youth Enterprises Scheme (CYES)’’. The CYES initiative was introduced five year ago to support and empower brilliant young needy Nigerians to obtain tertiary education and vocational technical training.
The program was considered as an opportunity to directly impact a large number of people within our host communities, which consists of a scholarship program for students for the entire duration of their stay in any Nigerian tertiary institutions.
“Under the CYES scheme, WAGPC has also trained 80 young Nigerians on vocational technical training and empowered them with tools to start up their business.
“We have make-up tools boxes, gas cookers and gas cylinders, industrial tailoring sewing machines and iron, electrical tool box and welding machines to those student who has successfully graduated from the 2-years training technical school,’’ she said.
The WAGPC general manger said that they decided to equip the successful graduates to enable them set up their own businesses.
She said that the scheme provides young persons in the host communities, who had completed basic education but cannot pursue further studies due to financial constraints, the opportunity to learn a trade of their choice in recognized vocational and technological institutions in Nigeria.
“The graduands have been trained in vocations such as welding and fabrication, fashion and design, catering and hotel management, woodwork and capentry.
“WAGPCo has spent over N225 million on scholarship scheme over the last six year. While over N 167 million has also been spent on CYES program, which does not include the cost of the start-up tools we gave to them today,’’ Wereko-Brobby said.
She appeal to the beneficiaries to ensure that the tools are used judiciously to empower themselves in their various communities.
Oba Abudul-Kabir Lanlede, the Olota of Ota land lauded WAGPCo for their support to host communities in empowering the youths through scholarships and vocational technical training.
The royal father urged the company to ensure effective monitoring and mentorship of the graduands and students under tertiary education scholarship.
He urged the student to make use of the best opportunity given to them, adding that “you should be able to feed yourselves and your family with the economic empowerment given to you.
“This kind of opportunities comes in one’s life time, so you should make use of it judiciously.”
One of the instructors, Mrs Alice Okoka, lauded WAGPCo’s contributions to the students’ empowerment, adding that the students were well trained and qualified to start their businesses.
According to her, the 80 students were given N10,000 on monthly bases during their period of internship. By implications, the company spent N18, 720,000.00 as monthly allowances for two years.
“The company also rented apartment for some of them who live far from the training school. Today, I am bold to tell you that the students are equal to the task,” she said.
The communities empowered its young adolescents by WAGPCo are Ota Arobieye, Okomi, Egushi, Ijoko, Itoki, Owode, Igberen, and Ojigbo.
OLUSOLA BELLO