Oando: Setting Standards for a Better Service Delivery

In 2005, the Federal Government directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to create detached Mega Stations in Nigeria to address the petroleum products needs of Nigerians as part of its take on easing the suffering of the people. Then, a floating mega station was inaugurated on October 4, 2006 at Okerenkoko in Warri South-West area of Delta State, ahead of 12 others initially approved by Federal Government.

Sadly, 10 years after, this commendable feat that informed the establishment of the floating Mega stations are yet to materialise in the way it was envisioned. Most Nigerians are still weltering in desperate search for petroleum products, and at the expense of the lives of the people especially during trying times when there is a hike in fuel price.

Nigeria has also been turned into a dumping ground for engine oils and other lube products and local lubricant blending plants are closing shop, while substandard lubricant abounds in the market.

In realisation of the hazardous state of the people and to further support government’s commitment and to lend a hand to NNPC, Oando Marketing, a subsidiary of Oando Plc, as part of its promise to open 50 mega stations in Lagos and other parts of the country in the next five years, has commissioned yet another mega station at the Iwo Road area of Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria.

Oando Marketing's newly constructed mega-station at Iwo road, Ibadan during tis commissioning recently

Oando Marketing’s newly constructed mega-station at Iwo road, Ibadan during its commissioning recently

The station which took approximately four months to construct was commissioned recently in an event anchored by Babafemi Olabiyi, Head Sales at OMP.

Speaking at the event, Olabiyi said that Oando wants to continuously optimize its retail network to demonstrate commitment to customer satisfaction and consolidate its leadership position in the petroleum marketing sector, “Oando Marketing PLC has committed huge investments to improving its retail station facilities with best quality tamper-proof and more efficient dispensing pumps, nicely-designed layout with new canopies and display signages”.

As a key player in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry, Oando Marketing is keen to ensure that petroleum products get to consumers irrespective of their location. Hence, the plan, which already is in motion, includes building 10 state-of-the-art mega stations every year within the next five years across major cities in Nigeria culminating in 50 mega stations by 2018.

So far, these mega stations have been arousing curiosity in the highly competitive oil and gas sector, have been constructed and opened in the Lekki and Ojodu-Berger areas of Lagos. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is also home to two other mega stations on both Herbert Macaulay and Mabushi in Abuja. The company also converted a retail station to mega station for its teeming customers on the high-brow Obafemi Awolowo Road 1 in, Falomo Ikoyi area of Lagos.

Mrs Olaposi Williams, CEO – Oando Marketing

The Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mrs. Olaposi Williams, during the commissioning of the Falomo Mega Station, said this would guarantee consumers easy access to petroleum products as well as raising the bar in the industry to international standard.

Each of the stations, according to her, will have the capacity to dispense at least three trucks of Premium Motor Spirit per day adding that they would be one stop shops for consumers.

“The project which has since commenced in Lagos will also be located in good locations in Abuja, Port Harcourt and other major cities in the East, North and West. Lagos, which is the commercial nerve centre of the country, will have the largest share with 50 per cent, Federal Capital Territory 30 per cent, while East and North will get 10 per cent each.” She said.

She added that the new retail outlets would go a long way in assisting the renewed drive of the Federal Government to transform the economy and create employment for the teeming populace.

Olaposi also explained that each of the stations have the capacity to dispense over 30,000 litres of petroleum products daily, using automated pumping facilities and would also be a one-stop shop for cooking gas refilling, lubricants, LPG cylinders and stoves.

“OMP is keen to fit-out its service stations with state-of-the-art equipment and advanced technologies to meet the dynamic needs of today’s customers as well as to upgrade our facilities to the highest international standards. The reopening of Oando Service Station in Warri, Ibadan and Lagos in the last one month will increase our capacity and readiness to cope with the changing customer needs, for fuel and specialty products.”

She called on all to support Oando’s card payment system by ensuring that their first payment option at these retail outlets is the use of debit cards to promote Government’s cashless policy.