Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, has held a meeting with the officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (PLC) in readiness for the take off the Liquified Natural Gas Project (LNG), in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the State.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor Abiodun, described the project as long-awaited, with the potential to adequately address the energy needs of the country.

Abiodun, who expressed joy at the interest shown by the Nigerian Oil company to revitalise the project abandoned over three decades ago, said, it was coming barely a week after the signing of MoU for the development of the DeepSea Port, in Paris, France.

"Today, we just received members of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company PLC, who came to meet with us on behalf of the Group Chief Executive officer, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, represented by Mr. Adedapo Segun, who is the Group Chief Financial Officer, Gas, Power and New Energy, Mr. Lekan Ogunleye and other members of their team.

"They have come to discuss with us the LNG plant that was originally designed and called OKLNG which was meant to be situated on our coastline. Now they have brought the project back to life,’’ the Governor said.

The location of the project, the Governor, maintained, further demonstrated that apart from being an industrial capital, would also gradually become the energy hub of the country.

He noted further that the meeting focussed on issue relating to land, incentives and others that could lead to smooth take off of the plant in the next 1 month.

 While speaking on what the State would benefit from the LNG project, Governor Abiodun alluded to similar project currently being executed by the company in Bonny, where about 14,000 people were employed, emphasised the multiplying effects of the Ogun project in the area of job creation and provision of gas not just to the economic zone and the surrounding industries, but to the entire State and the South West region.

He said it was the desire of the President to see the plant come up stream as part of efforts to deepen gas utilisation that would reduce the cost of living for Nigerians.

Also speaking, Group Chief Financial Officer, NNPC, Mr. Adedapo Segun, acknowledged the tremendous transformation that had put the State on the world map.

He said the Company would be carrying out a comprehensive analysis of the problems that led to the suspension of the project with a view to resuscitating it.

In his remarks, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, Mr. Lekan Ogunleye, said the Company would require 1728 hectares of land to accommodate the LNG plants, utilities, storage and support facilities, while 2. 5 kilometers of dedicated Atlantic frontages will be needed to support marin traffic and safety requirements for up to three LNG jetties.

He congratulated the people of the State for having such massive project which would change their fortune for good.