THE oil sector made a remarkable leap in Delta state when an independent marketer inaugurated last week in Asaba a retail outlet with 21 nozzles.
The unique mega filling station on the busy Asaba-Benin expressway in the town like others in Calabar, Cross river state was the cynosure of motorists especially commercial operators as governor Ifeanyi Okowa cut the tape to declare the outlet open.
Governor Okowa dispensed fuel to his official car as part of the commissioning ceremony.
This was followed by commissioners and top government functionaries in the governor’s entourage who waited patiently at different nozzles to fill the tanks of their official cars courtesy of the generosity of the company.
With the number of nozzles, the first of its kind in the state on an expanse of land, the oil company blazed the trail to prove its determination to do business, taking advantage of the healthy economic climate in the state.
According to a director in the company Dr. Olaolu Modashiru, in his welcome address, it was the friendly environment for investment that attracted North West Oil and Gas to the state.
Dr. Modashiru’s words were indeed convincing when he assured the government and people of the state that the company had a known reputation of having products at all times at the right prices.
Governor Okowa, who was impressed with the standard of the mega station, however, used the occasion to call for necessary action that would ensure regular supply and appropriate pricing of petroleum products to mitigate the sufferings of Nigerians.
In particular, the governor described as unacceptable buying of kerosene far above the official price.
The governor urged the company to take advantage of crude and gas in the state to establish modular refineries just as he assured his administration’s readiness to facilitate acquisition of land for such investment.
While commending the company for its interest to establish the ultra-modern filling station, Governor Okowa expressed happiness that investors were having more confidence in establishing their businesses in the state.