NOGASA reaffirms readiness to combat adulteration of petroleum products

The Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), has reiterated its readiness to partner with the Federal Government to deepen the nation’s oil industry by curbing circulation of adulterated petroleum products and vandalisation of pipelines.

The Association reaffirmed this position in Ikeja, during the inauguration of its Lagos State Council.

Speaking at the event, the South West Zonal Chairman, Dr. Fatuyi Yemi Philips, stated that despite the huge benefits of natural gas, which is Nigeria’s major source and most preferred choice of burning fuel, its production and supply has brought many negative effects in the producing communities and subsequently the nation.

According to him, environmental, social, and logistics challenges are some of the factors hindering the growth and availability of natural gas in the country.

He added that the worst of them are pipeline vandalism, diversion of products to neigbouring countries, and infiltration of bodies of registered gas suppliers by bad elements.

He said: “It is imperative therefore that the new executives of Lagos State chapter of this great organisation, lead the association above all, interface between host communities and production companies to create and implement its corporate social responsibility interventions to ensure peace and harmony between host communities, and companies, as well as protect production and supply installation. They also need to create roadmap that will ease, sustain and maintain supply from production to the final consumer.”

While highlighting the importance of the new council, Fatuyi explained that Lagos unarguably is home to Nigeria’s most critical commercial activities and a natural gas producing state.

The National President of the Association, Kenneth Korie, in his goodwill message delivered by the Secretary-General, Mr. Tunde David, said: “NOGASA is here to right the wrongs of oil and gas supply in Nigeria”.

“The strategic position of the industry as suppliers of Natural oil and gas in the overall development of economy could not be overemphasised. Our objective is to ensure quality product and service delivery across the country,” he said.

Korie called on marketers patronising illegal depots to desist from doing so, saying it would jeopardise the association’s efforts in addition to the frequent damages caused by adulterated products.

He emphasized that the association has been strictly reorganized for bona fide suppliers of natural oil and gas in the industry.