By Jessica Akubueze Chukwudebe
CAPAD Nigeria Limited, Awka, has opened a cooking gas station. This comes after its filling station was first opened on the 6th of November, 2019.
The grand opening was honoured by his Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor, the Catholic Bishop of Awka.
The CAPAD Company Nigeria limited, is located at Awka South, Anambra State, it is a company that deals with, both fuel and gas and has a supermarket within the filling station.
At the opening of the cooking gas station, March 7, which started with an opening speech by the former Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Francis Chidume, who thanked God for the gift of life and family, he also introduced the Bishop, Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor, who, in his opening address to the people of the community, emphasized the importance of the gas station to the people.
He said, ‘The meter should not be tampered with; there should be truth and honesty. If any customer is buying 10kg, let it be 10kg.’
He however said he did not have control over the prices of the gas to be sold.
Bishop Ezeokafor commended the efforts of the Manager of CAPAD Company Nigeria limited, Rev. Fr. Anthony Nwachukwu Igboamalu, thanking him for the progress he had made so far.
Thanking God for the event of the day, he asked him to continue to oversee the progress of the gas station.
After the address by the Bishop, a prayer was held for the opening of the gas plant which led to the cutting of the ribbon and the blessing and dedication of the gas plant.
The Manager of CAPAD Company Nigeria Limited, Rev. Fr. Anthony Nwachukwu Igboamalu, thanked Bishop Ezeokafor for honouring the invitation, saying, ‘I can’t do anything without his lordship’s approval.’
He went on to thank everyone present, starting from the priests to the Rev. Sisters, and all those who honoured the invitation. He also thanked the community and customers, while promising to serve them honestly and dedicatedly.
While speaking with Fides, a visibly excited Fr Igboamalu thanked God for making his dream a reality.
‘I am happy also to have contributed my own little quota towards easing the pains of the people who live around this place because they wouldn’t have to undergo the pains and hardship of going to distant stations to get their cooking gas. It is now close to them.
‘I am very happy for the people who have worked with me and those I have worked with.
‘Since the inception of the Diocese of Awka, I think this is the first project of its kind, and to the glory of God, I am part of it,’ said Igboamalu.
Talking about the reaction of the customers concerning the selling of gas at the rate of N1, 150 instead of N1, 300 or N1, 400, and the strategies he had in beating existing gas plants, Fr Igboamalu said the company was not competing with anybody, and that they would make sure their meter was always complete and accurate.
‘I have intentions of selling below what others are selling, not only as of today, but as of the whole month. Our watch words are Accuracy, Liability and Availability,’ he said.
Looking into his strategies, concerning timing, Igboamalu promised to make efforts to sell and meet the needs of customers, while also looking into their safety and those of their customers.
‘So selling into the midnight is not my dream nor my target,’ the priest stated.
Rev. Fr. Igboamalu said even though it was one of the most populated local government areas in the state, they would not sell on Sundays, despite many customers coming on Sunday to buy cooking gas.
‘We operate 7am to 7:30pm every day, except Sundays and days of Holy obligations,’ he said.
One of the customers at the gas plant, Mrs Gloria Nneka Okeke, expressed delight at the opening of the gas plant, saying it would reduce the economic stress on her, both cost of transportation in getting the gas elsewhere and in the amount she used to fill her gas.
‘I wish for the gas plant to be as big as an oil company in the next five years and for it to keep on serving the community,’ she said.