Gusau — The Zamfara State government yesterday sealed an agreement with two other business partners to construct a refinery in Gusau, the state capital, at the cost of 1.5 billion euros.

Speaking at the commissioning of office complex and hand over of site for the construction of the refinery, Governor Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi said the project was being undertaken by the state government, BSM -APCL- Swinglehurst and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Governor Shinkafi said the project which was the first of its kind in Nigeria would on completion, provide constant supply, storage, marketing and distribution network of all refined petroleum products.

According to him, the project will also stabilize and compliment the operations, management, consultancy and maintenance of the Zamfara International Cargo Airport and the 240-bed Shinkafi Referral Hospital.

The governor said the conception of the project was largely informed by the recognition of the central and indispensable role of energy in the realization for sustainable development of the state and brighter future of the citizens. He added that energy had always been at the core of any comprehensive and pragmatic approach to development.

Shinkafi noted that besides its huge potential for job creation, the project was expected to serve as a pivot for industrial development of the state, north-western sub region and indeed the entire northern region and Nigeria as a whole.

In his remarks, the representative of BSM International Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, Otumba Lateef Lai Ogungbedero, explained that his firm was fully prepared for the establishment of the refinery. He enjoined people of the state to accommodate staff of the company for fast delivery of the project.