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The Tank Farm/Satellite Town Saga:

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……The True Story

The Festering story of the Satellite Town and Tank Farm are not getting abated, if the truth must be told. Banters and expansions on the raging matter were espoused by opposing parties on the issues, and the interesting conclusion is that both parties have now agreed on a Mutual and Consolidated Agreement to move on and make things Workable in the interest of Peace, Harmony and Progress.

Residents of a largely populated area in satellite town area of Lagos state, have cried out to the Lagos state Government to come out to their aid on the activities of Tank farm in their immediate vicinity.

The residents made up mainly of all the Estates, roads and close accessed through the old, worn-out, frail,   rocky   and gully road of the area linked to old Ojo Road, Wobbly Navy Road, and the uncharted shell-Abule  Osun Road, with the broken steps and ridges and water collectors interior, are gathered here at the closest level of government.

They are   bemoaning  their  state  of  desolation   and now earnestly drawing the attention of the government to the very appalling and deplorable situation of their Community.

Their groves rise from the operation of a disparate group of over 50 Tank farms operated by 13 marketing Companies.

This  ugly   situation   led to a massive protest by the residents who trooped out on Tuesday ,July 9, 2019 to condemn what they describe as unwarranted invasion of their  community by the oil company. They therefore insisted that the operators should relocate their companies to another area as the current is becoming inhabitable due to environmental   pollution   ravaging  the  community.

According to the chairman, Satellite Town Forum, Mr. Michael Imitinl, all government agencies should plan well before approving location of facilities in areas to avoid ugly situation in future just like what is happening in the  Niger Delta.

However, we also  heared  the side of Tank Farms  via  the  secretary,  Ijegun-Egba Tank Farms Owners/ Operators, Satellite Town, Lagos Barrister  Eslist  Eslist who explained, ‘What is essential  is that, whatever we discussed at inception of the relationship  is that both parties should adhere to the black and white of the deal.

We don’t have issue, their demand are roads, infrastructural deficit which civil construction are going on  at Pioneer Road, the road will be fully rehabilitated.  Before our company starts operation at Satellite Town,  we have to pass through Marwa Road, every collapsed portion in that area has  been rehabilitated by our Tank Farm is 3.8 km road beginning of Marwa Road down to the end is long term measure with   expansion and  the drainage. The  issue  of flooding whatever concerns the community also concerns us. We want to take water out of the Community down to the lagoon. Work is in progress and the engineer in charge is the Nigerian Army  Construction  Company .  Eventually, whatever that is affecting the community in terms of drainage, water and flooding has  been addressed. An  expansion  of the road is on going which will  be completed soon.  What   we  need   from the  community is cooperation in terms of relationship.  As a corporate organization, enjoying   good relationship with the community people is our priority.

We have had several meetings and  the  most  important thing is whether the work we promised  has commenced or not. Yes, it has commenced, and they are seeing it going on smoothly, and this is why we are appealing to the Community to  be   patient as the work goes on. We are on the job, and will not abandon the job half-way until it is finished  beyond  logical  conclusion.  Above this, our presence, whether you like it or not,   has made this community a better one in the  eyes  of the external world,  and we are even making moves to make satellite Town/ Ijegun Egba Community more attractive. It is only good for our Company, not the Hearken to the needs of the Community and we are ever ready to give them what they most desired as  part of our Corporate Social Responsibility.  We have a cordial relationship with the Community, and it is only a foolish businessman that will operate in a hostile environment, especially when people around him are unhappy. They believe that Tank farm will turn the place into an economic zone, and the Government will be easily attracted to the Community. That is why the LASG has been sending their Interventional team to establish a fire- fighting unity in the Community, just as Tank Farms has established its own fire combating outfit, which can also serve the Community, in case of any unexpected fire outbreak.

We are not here illegally we are here Legitimately, and all Companies are duly approved and licensed by Government, so whatever we are doing here is backed by law, and we can only add value to the surrounding Communities by giving them what they lack, by way of Amenities.

On whatever there were prior meetings between firms and the Community, it was ascertained that several meeting were held between both parties and those meetings  ended

in mutual agreement of how the company and the Community can move forward in terms of community development and Corporate Social Responsibility on the part of Tank Farm.

Also, the coordinator, Ijegun- Egba Tank farms owners and Operators Association,  Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammed corroborated the earlier  speaker.

He said,  we have met with the Community severally, and we have briefed them on the work that is going on which they readily saw and identified. Actually, we are supposed to have started earlier than this, but because of the rain, we had to start in May, and hopefully, when the rain  subsides, we should be through with the work by the end of September, all things being equal why the work has not been progressing is because of the weather; if not so the work should have been completed since but that is not an excuse for us.  We can only hope that the Community will bear with us, even as they can see that work is going on steadily and in no time, they will begin to enjoy the goodies of the job.

Another issue is that of misplacement of trust among the various parties involved. Many meetings were called and invitation sent to the community to address the main issue, only for the Community to renege and give them their own condition, which was to come and meet them at their own behest, with express permission and approval from their directors. They are however waiting for another meeting that can be mutually fixed and issues settled amicably. As for the Tank Farm, they have been job opportunities for the community, and this will not stop  because as long as the  inhabitants  are gainfully employed, the Tank farms will also be greatly rewarded by what the people are giving back to them. So it is a gain-gain situation for the two parties. Tank farms and satellite town entities. Good enough, all the Tank farms have now come together as one body to come as a positive Form in aid of the Community, and this is a good signal for good things to come  which include,

 medical facility, education, social amenities that will further raise the standard of the satellite town Community. This will be coming as a collective responsibility of the Tank farmers and the host Community.

 

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Symbolic gestures to tangible cooperation, Air Peace clearance, Oil giant Petrobras return is key gain of Tinubu’s Brazil visit, Says Onanuga

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……Air Peace clearance for Lagos-Sao Paulo direct flights excites President

The return of Brazil’s oil giant, Petrobras, to Nigeria’s upstream is a major breakthrough recorded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s two-day state visit to the largest economy in South America, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said yesterday.

Besides, Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, was given the right to commence Lagos-Sao Paulo flights to underscore the renewed economic and cultural ties between the two countries.

Sao Paulo is Brazil’s economic powerhouse and largest city.

Air Peace Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, said the airline would deploy a Boeing 777 from its fleet to service the route.

A symbolic flight was planned for last night.

These agreements are part of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed by the two countries during the President’s third visit to Brazil in less than one year.

His two earlier visits were on invitations extended to Nigeria by G-20 and BRICS.

“Air Peace is now cleared to run flights between Lagos and Sao Paulo”, Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, declared to the excitement of President Tinubu at a joint news conference at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília to round off the visit.

According to Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said the resumption of Petrobras’ operations five years after it halted joint ventures in Nigeria, would reignite economic cooperation in the energy sector.

“We have the largest gas repository. So, I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t join as a partner in Nigeria as soon as possible. I appreciate President Lula’s promise that this will be done as soon as possible,” Tinubu said.

The President praised his Brazilian counterpart for committing to revitalising the partnership between the two nations.

“Nigeria’s economic space remains a virgin land, full of opportunities for Brazilian companies,” Tinubu said, while acknowledging Embraer’s role in boosting local airline operations through plans for a service centre in Nigeria to support maintenance and repairs.

Reflecting on his past engagements in Brazil, Tinubu urged a shift from symbolic gestures to tangible cooperation.

“Honourable Ministers of both countries, members of the Brazil Business Group, I have listened carefully to my friend, President Lula. We had a lengthy discussion. We talked about history and about African and Brazilian heritage.

“We tried to see why we are not at the level we wanted. We have allowed some problems and activities in the past to deter us from making progress and fulfilling our promises. But today, we say that is the end of that,” he said.

Tinubu stressed Nigeria’s readiness to partner Brazil in technology transfer, food security, renewable energy, and manufacturing.

“Today, we are fighting and working hard to bring our sovereignty to the level of expectation that we, as a nation, the most populous, the most dynamic country, share with Brazil. We need to share—technology transfer, energy, economy — so Brazil can continue to widen opportunities for us to embrace Africa. Africa is the new frontier,” he said.

The President also called for knowledge sharing in pharmaceuticals, saying “we have elevated this promise to the path of reality, as you have seen in various MOUs. I don’t know why the manufacturing of generic drugs, which Brazil has done deeply and far, cannot be in Nigeria.

“I don’t see why the technological superiority of Brazil is not shared with Africa. We assured each other that only we can develop our economies to help our sovereignty”, President Tinubu said.

Highlighting the reforms at home, Tinubu assured Brazilian investors of a new era in Nigeria’s economy.

“The reforms I’ve embarked upon since I took over in Nigeria have been very impactful. It was initially painful, but today the result is blossoming. It’s getting clearer to the people. We have more money for the economy, and there will be no more corruption.

“We have the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria here. You don’t have to know him before getting the foreign exchange you need. The speculators are out. In our currency market, the door is open for businesses,” he said.

President Lula described the renewed Brazil–Nigeria engagement as timely in an era of rising protectionism.

“At a time when protectionism and unilateralism have returned, Nigeria and Brazil reaffirm their bet on free trade and productive integration. We continue to be dedicated to building a world of peace, free from hegemonic impositions.

“There are many possibilities for synergy between the world’s two largest countries with black populations. Agriculture and livestock, oil and gas, fertilisers, aircraft, and machinery, among others, represent wide avenues for cooperation.

“Increasing direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies. We have approved the launch of a direct flight, to be operated by Nigeria’s largest airline company, Air Peace, between Lagos and São Paulo,” he said.

The following MoUs were signed between the two countries:

*Bilateral Air Services Agreement by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filhos.

*Diplomatic Training Cooperation and MoU on political consultations were signed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and her Brazilian counterpart, Ambassador Mauro Vieira.

Nnaji, and Brazil’s Luciana Santos.

*The Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, and Brazil’s Minister for National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aluísio Mercadante, signed an MOU for cooperation on trade and investment promotion, harmonising efforts to expand agricultural financing, investment, and joint projects.

Nigeria is currently Brazil’s 49th largest export destination, with trade between both countries reaching $2.1 billion in 2024.

Following the agreements, President Tinubu attended a state luncheon, hosted at the Itamaraty Palace.

Mohammed Idris: BASA to deepen ties

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed between Nigeria and Brazil as a significant breakthrough that will reconnect the two countries economically, socially, and culturally.

He described BASA as representing more than aviation.

“The 350 years of slavery between Africa and Brazil is being looked at again by the two leaders. And one way of looking at it is to ensure there is now a reconnection – economic, financial, social, cultural, whichever sphere. I think this is the best way to really go past what has happened during the period of slavery,” the minister said.

He noted that President Tinubu’s fourth meeting with President Lula in just over a year underscored the growing partnership between the two nations, which he said would also benefit Africa.

The minister said immediate “quick wins” from the agreement were already being realised, with a symbolic flight planned from Brazil to Abuja at midnight on Tuesday.

He noted that the direct link would reduce travel time between the two countries from more than 24 hours through European routes to about seven hours.

“Once this becomes commercially viable, it will not just enhance trade between the two countries, it will also improve the cultural and social cooperation that already exists,” he added.

Onyema, who described the BASA agreement as “a milestone,” said: “We cannot start daily flights for now, but we want to start with three weekly flights. As we go on, we develop the route and we’re going to increase the frequency. We told the Brazilians that we want to do Lagos, Rio, São Paulo and back to Lagos”.

The Air Peace chief emphasised that aviation would serve as a catalyst for unlocking the economic potential of both nations.

“The Brazilian economy is the largest in Latin America. The Nigerian economy is one of the largest in Africa. They need to tap into this. But without aviation, it’s very, very difficult for some of these things to be actualised,” Onyema said.

Boeing 777 for route

Speaking in an interview, Onyema said: “Nigerian aviation is grateful to President Tinubu for all he has been doing for the industry.

Air Peace has had long relation with Brazil as the biggest customer to Brazillian airplane maker, Embraer.

Air Peace signed a firm order for 13 Embraer E195-E2 jets in 2019, with the delivery of the first aircraft in early 2021. This was part of a larger agreement that included purchase rights for 17 additional aircraft of the same type, bringing the total potential order to 30 jets. The airline is the first African carrier to operate this new generation of Embraer aircraft.

Besides buying aeroplanes, Air Peace is fine-tuning strategies for the setting up of an aircraft maintenance facility in Nigeria.

Embraer, a few years ago, unveiled plans to establish an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facility in Nigeria, in partnership with Air Peace. This initiative is part of a broader maintenance deal with the Nigerian airline to provide local maintenance support for its growing fleet of Embraer aircraft, aiming to conserve foreign exchange for airlines and create jobs in Nigeria.

As one of Nigeria’s biggest flag carriers , Air Peace is designated on Lagos/ London, Dubai, Johannesburg, Tel Aviv, China, Mumbai, Antigua and Barbuda,

Air Peace serves 20 major cities in Nigeria and many regional destinations throughout West Africa (Accra, Dakar, Douala Freetown, Banjul, and Monrovia.

Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., better known by and trading as the portmanteau Petrobras, is a Brazilian majority state-owned multinational corporation in the petroleum industry headquartered in Rio de Janeiro. The company’s name translates to Brazilian Petroleum Corporation — Petrobras.

Petrobras began operations in Nigeria in 1998 in the deep waters off the Niger Delta. It sold its stakes more than 10 years ago to raise cash for domestic projects. Since then, Nigeria has been working to address some of the problems that have limited oil and gas output.

Petrobras stopped business in Nigeria five years ago.

The company was ranked #71 in the 2023 Fortune Global 500 list. In the 2023 Forbes Global 2000, Petrobras was ranked as the 58th-largest public company in the world.

Petrobras was created in 1953 under the government of Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas with the slogan “The Oil is Ours”. It was given a legal monopoly in Brazil.

In 2000, Petrobras set a world record for oil exploration in deep waters, reaching a depth of 1,877 metres (6,158 ft) below sea level. In 2002, Petrobras acquired the Argentine company Perez Companc Energía (PECOM Energía S.A.) from the Perez Companc Family Group and its family foundation for $1.18 billion.

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JUST IN : $4.2m COVID-19 fraud : Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Olugbenga Oloyede.jailed four years in US

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The Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison in the United States.

Oloyede, 62, who holds dual U.S. and Nigerian citizenship and resides in Medina, Ohio, was on August 26 handed 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio in a statement on Tuesday, the monarch, was also ordered to “serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution.

“He also forfeited his Medina home on Foote Road, which he had acquired with proceeds of the scheme, and an additional $96,006.89 in fraud proceeds investigators had seized,” the statement read.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Oloyede led a conspiracy to exploit COVID-19 emergency loan programmes created for struggling businesses.

“From about April 2020 to February 2022, Oloyede and his co-conspirator, Edward Oluwasanmi, conspired to submit fraudulent applications for loans that were made available through the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,” the statement read.

In April, the duo pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax fraud charges linked to a pandemic relief scam that siphoned over $4.2m in federal stimulus funds.

The court was told that Oloyede, who also worked as a tax preparer, “operated five businesses and one nonprofit, while Oluwasanmi owned an additional three business entities.

“Both defendants used their businesses to submit loan applications using false information.

“They obtained approximately $1.2 million in SBA funds for Oluwasanmi’s entities and $1.7 million for Oloyede’s entities,” the statement added.

According to investigators, “Oloyede submitted fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications in the names of some of his clients and their businesses.

“In exchange, Oloyede would receive 15-20% of their loans as the fee, or kickback, for obtaining the loans for them, without reporting this income to the IRS on his own tax returns.”

The funds were then used for personal gain, prosecutors said.

“Investigators learned that the defendant used funds obtained from these loans to acquire land and build a home and purchase a luxury vehicle,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office disclosed.

In all, Oloyede “caused the SBA to approve 38 fraudulent applications, amounting to $4,213,378 in disbursed loans and advances.”

His co-conspirator, Oluwasanmi, 62, of Willoughby, was earlier sentenced in July to 27 months in prison.

He was also ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution, forfeit a commercial property purchased with fraud proceeds, and surrender more than $600,000 held in financial accounts.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized the significance of the conviction, noting that the case was jointly investigated by the Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General, the FBI Cleveland Division, and IRS-Criminal Investigations as part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Fraud Task Force.

“This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward D. Brydle and James L. Morford for the Northern District of Ohio,” the release concluded.

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BREAKING : Air Peace is set to launch direct flights from Lagos to Brazil, following an agreement reached during President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil

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Air Peace, is set to begin direct flights from Lagos, Nigeria  to São Paulo, Brazil following an agreement reached during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil

Details later

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