Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday said that the refinery, petrochemical, gas and fertilizer projects being undertaken by Africa's richest man and business mogul, Aliko Dangote at the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) in Lagos would significantly boost the economy of Lagos and Nigeria in general.

Governor Ambode who spoke to newsmen shortly after an extensive inspection tour of the projects by the Nigeria's Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and some members of the Federal Executive Council, said the projects would have great multiplier effects on the nation's economy.

He said, "Firstly, there is a refinery project that is ongoing, second there is a petrochemical project that is also ongoing. There is pipeline transfer project that brings gas from Bonny down to Olokonla and down to Lekki and then the fourth one is the fertilizer project all in one location."

He said the projects would also be critical to the economic growth of the Lagos East and West Senatorial Districts which according to him, will be open to massive investment opportunities on completion.

Governor Ambode said the decision of the Vice President to lead the inspection visit to the projects was a signpost to the benefits inherent not just for the State but to the nation.

He assured that his administration would provide the necessary support to ensure that the projects are completed within schedule.

"The coming of the Vice President to inspect this project is instructive and a sign post that the Federal Government is in support of what is going on us and the truth is this, we might not be able to show you all that is going on here but in another few weeks, we will do an aerial view of this project and also do a documentary because for the very first time we are going to have a Petrochemical project that is coming on stream by December 2017; a Refinery that is coming on stream by the first quarter of 2019 and also the Gas project that is coming on stream by 2018. You can just imagine or visualize what that means to the economy of Lagos," Governor Ambode said.

He added that apart from the 135,000 direct jobs that will be created from the projects, another 100,000 indirect jobs would be generated while income accruable to the Federal Government would be in the region of over $500million in three years.

"It is important that we understand the debt of what has happened here and also use it as a platform to encourage other investors that Lagos is on the rise and the future of Lagos is very bright," the Governor said.

Osinbajo, while addressing newsmen after a project briefing at the LFZ, said the project as a whole is an incredible industrial undertaken being the largest and the most ambitious in Africa.

The Vice President who was accompanied on the inspection by the Ministers for Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said the Gas Project upon completion has the capacity to produce about three billion cubic feet of gas daily, which would permanently address the two billion cubic feet daily gas required to power the country.

"This is incredible if that can be done because it would be a major strategic asset for Nigeria, It would boost our power supply tremendously," the Vice President said.

On his part, Alhaji Dangote said the decision to site the projects in Lagos was due to the investment friendly climate in the State.

"Lagos is one State that is very investor friendly and the Governor himself has always been asking what are the issues and he normally put in place steps to resolve those issues immediately,” he said.

He said the Gas Pipeline Project would guarantee uninterrupted power supply in Lagos on completion, which he said would also positively increase the State's Gross Domestic Project (GDP).

Dangote further said the projects would also attract other bigger investors into the Zone.

He also said the projects would benefit the local communities as at least 65 per cent of people in the catchment area would be employed, while over 1000 would be trained.

"Our target is that in the next five years or so from now, we hope and we believe that half of Nigeria's crude will be refined and exported rather than just exporting crude to go and create jobs elsewhere," Dangote said.

SIGNED
HABIB ARUNA
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
JUNE 25, 2016

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/06/dangote-lekki-refinery-will-boost.html

Goodnews... When i do see people screaming and rejoicing being the first to comment i do think there is always a price for it.... Am i the first to comment here

Dangote...a detribalized Nigerian...always in the good books of every government in power!!!!!

Good news Employment opportunity God bless this man

I love love Dangote ehh!.the man sharp

Nice one.....

Following

Niger delta militants see ur life?

Governor way dey work, bring d change we seek too much darkness already Na light we need now

Respect and honour Aliko Dangote

No doubt Mr gov!
God bless PMB for the right given!
God bess Lagos for peace environment!
God bless all the Good supporters of this regime!
God bless Nigeria!
God bless me for going to use the oil that refinery would refined!
God bless you for believing in Nigeria, even though it has be vandalised by enemies of progress!
God bless Dangote for the initiative!

The timing of the launch is just too convenient.

With Ambode, Osibanjo et al. being linked to this groundbreaking initiative that will not just permanently end fuel scarcity in Nigeria and crash the prices of PMS significantly due to sufficient supply, but will also earn Forex which will improve the health of the Naira through increased FX inflow; the 2019 APC campaign will be a piece of cake.

This plant will create 135,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs for Lagosians and other Nigerians, just as Lagos's rice plants in Kebbi State is also forecasted to create thousands of jobs for northerners. Furthermore still, these efforts are cementing the economic diversification drive of this government, and its absolutely joyful that not a single crude pipeline would be laid from the Niger Delta who will increasingly become irrelevant if they refuse to partake in this revolution and prefer to continue constituting a national nuisance.

Nigeria's glory years beckon; thanks to the Fulani entrepreneurial powerhouse called Aliko Dangote.

God bless Nigeria.

"It is important that we understand the debt of what has happened here and also use it as a platform to encourage other investors that Lagos is on the rise and the future of Lagos is very bright," the Governor said

Mr Chief Press Secretary it is not debt but depth...

And some other goats would rather buy properties everywhere even in Lome

we shall get there

bad news for flat heads. sheriff till 2030

definitely it will. All im sure of is that .. We are not stupid and idiots. We wont blow up installations all in the name of agitations. Im a proud Abejoye/Epe/Ibeju lekki man. We are sane people. Ride on dang .

Ayways
DrabeeyWasHere

Dangote is the best entrepreneur Nigeria have ever produce unlike those political thief that steals Nigeria money to swiss account without investing in their home country for employment and development purpose..

How i wish Nigeria have more patriotic citizens like dangote, the country would have been a better place

Good news to Lagosians.

SW

Land for Eleko near d refinery goes for 500k to 1.2m . Make i go buy 50 plots . Imagine how much e go worth in year 2020. Pipeline from bonny nawa o. Militants still fit bomb am. God forbid sha

Hope the SS are learning from this. It would have been better and profitable for Dangote to locate this facility in the SS, but he knows that one day, they will wake up to blow up is facility for selfish reasons.
Smart decision there from Dangote

mccoy47:
Niger delta militants see ur life?

SW always profiting from every region in power.. Wayo dey pay them sha...
I wonder were the refinery will get its crude from..
hope nor be pipelines to the so call unsave Niger delta

Ok

My future place of work under construction!!! May God continue to bless yoruba land!!!

pepigeorge:

SW always profiting from every region in power.. Wayo dey pay them sha...
I wonder were the refinery will get its crude from..
hope nor be pipelines to the so call unsave Niger delta

Crude oil can always be sourced from other regions. Ghana and Niger no far, remember ?
For the ones within our borders, should Nigeria disintegrate before 2019. Ondo and Lagos are on and you cant dictate where the oil companies will do with their own percentage of the crude.

I envision a crude swap sef. Dangote wont do it for free and Nigeria will not give him crude freely.

Darris My humbu opinion

Good. Let's also think of diversified investment.

This is so patriotic coming from Ambode


Boost Nigeria's economy, not selfish saying Boost Lagos Economy!


Eko O ni Baje!!!