Ogunbiyi who made the revelation during the annual ministerial press briefing in Lagos said the colossal waste could have been eliminated if residents were able to cultivate the habit of switching off electrical appliances and bulbs that are not in use and switch over from normal bulbs to energy conserving bulbs.
She said that government came out with the figure after carrying out power audit in and around Lagos State. Ogunbiyi explained that street lights deployed across the state are powered diesel hence the failure by some to come up at night. She added that the lights will however become fully functional when all the Independent Power Plants(IPPs) put in place by the state government in conjunction with some private individuals becomes functional.
Earlier in his remarks, Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Taofiq Ajibade Tijani said all the IPPs running in the state and those still under construction will supply a total of 47 megawatts when completed, stressing that the state government has been able to decommission a total of 20 generators within the Lagos State Secretariat.
According to him, the Lagos State Secretariat including the Governor’s Office, LTV8 and surrounding street lights are currently powered by the Alausa IPP powered by Liquefied Natural Gas(LPG) adding that the Lagos Island IPP was recently expanded to enable it serve more areas beyond the initial Lagos Island Hospital, the High courts in Igbosere and surrounding street lights.
He noted that power audit carried out by the Lagos State Government revealed that only 1000 megawatts is allocated by the Federal Government through Eko Distribution and Ikeja Distribution Company to Lagos State whereas the state needs 4000 megawatts.
Speaking on availability of mineral resources in the state, the commissioner said that successful completion of Lagos East Senatorial District Geological Mapping project revealed speculative occurrence of 12.744MT of Limestone, Shale gas, Bitumen, Petroleum deposit, Sedimentary Ironstone Clay, Sand and other interesting discoveries adding that the ministry has commenced Lagos West Senatorial District Geological Mapping project covering Badagry and Ikeja with the exception of Kosofe and Shomolu.
He explained that the state government has signed into law a bill establishing Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation which he identified as a special purpose vehicle that will engage in business and investment activities in the upstream, midstream and downstream petroleum sectors of the country. On the promotion of the use of gas domestically and industrially, he said that the ministry in collaboration with stakeholders in the private sector is supporting the use of LPG and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which he said is currently being deployed to power IPPs in Lagos State.
While encouraging Nigerians to embrace the use of LPG as fuel for health, economic and environmental benefits, he noted that a 10-metric tonnes LPG Skid Plant was also commissioned in Ginti, Ikorodu to further ensure the use of LPG in all nooks and crannies of the State.
“It may interest you to know that four more plants have been earmarked for deployment in Epe, Badagry, Alimosho and Oshodi-Isolo. The Lagos State Government has also started to disburse 3kg and 6kg gas cylinders (Eko Gas) to Lagosians across the State free of charge as intervention to promote the use of LPG in the State. One thousand (1,000) cylinders have been distributed so far while logistics are on-going to distribute another set of 19,000 cylinders soonest”, he said.
He said the ministry is liaising with OANDO Nig. Ltd on introduction of Compressed Natural Gas into public transportation because of its environmental friendliness and that the ministry in conjunction with relevant State MDAs has been meeting with PPMC in order to curb this menace of pipeline vandalism in Lagos State.
By Emmanuel Thomas
