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The Tank Farm/Satellite Town Saga:
……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.
The immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji, on Saturday emerged as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
Oyebamiji’s emergence followed a motion moved by two governorship aspirants, Kunle Adegoke (SAN) and Senator Babajide Omoworare, at the primary election venue located within the premises of Ebunoluwa Group of Schools, Osogbo.
The Chairman of the APC governorship primary committee and Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, thereafter subjected the motion to a voice vote, which received overwhelming support from party members present at the primary.
Okpebholo subsequently declared, “By the power conferred on me, I present to you Bola Oyebamiji, as the governorship candidate of our party.”
Newsthumb earlier reported that the APC governorship primary in Osun State commenced in Osogbo, the state capital, with the arrival of the committee chairman, Monday Okpebholo, who noted that the candidate will emerge by affirmation.
APC’s gov candidate Oyebamiji pledges to reposition Osun
He arrived at the venue alongside the co-chairman of the committee, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, and other members of the governorship primary committee, including Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who represented the Lagos State Governor, and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Earlier on Tuesday, 1660 delegates that would elect the APC candidate in the December 13 governorship primary of the party emerged.
There were also clear indications that the seven APC governorship aspirants in the state had stepped down to back a consensus flagbearer after a late-night meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.
A former APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, on Wednesday, speaking on a TVC News programme, Politics Tonight, declared his support for the party’s arrangement to choose a consensus candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Omisore, who was among seven aspirants disqualified by the APC Screening Committee for alleged violations of party guidelines and electoral provisions, said he accepted the decision following guidance from President Bola Tinubu.
The Supreme Court has overridden the pardon granted by President Bola Tinubu to an Abuja-based house wife, Maryam Sanda, who was in 2020 sentenced to death by hanging for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute.
President Tinubu had reduced Sanda’s sentence to 12 years imprisonment on compassionate ground.
But in a judgment a on Friday, the Supreme Court, in a split decision of four-to-one, affirmed the death sentence handed Sanda by the Court of Appeal, Abuja which upheld the decision of a HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sentencing her to death by hanging.
The Apex Court resolved all the issues raised in the appeal she filed against her and dismissed the appeal for being without merit.
Court orders woman accused of killing husband to enter defence
Justice Moore Adumein held in the lead judgment, which he personally delivered, that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt as required, adding that the Court of Appeal was right to have affirmed the judgement of the trial court.
Justice Adumein held that it was wrong for the Executive to seek to exercise its power of pardon over a case of culpable homicide, in respect of which an appeal was pending.
….Inter-ministerial panel to fix payment delay
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the payment of N1.5 trillion owed to local contractors.
He raised a multi-ministerial panel to provide a permanent funding solution during yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the President was ‘visibly upset’ about the situation.
Onanuga said: “He made it very clear he was not happy and wants a one-stop solution.
“The President expressed grave displeasure about the fact that contractors are being owed.”
According to him, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, briefed the Council on the magnitude of outstanding obligations, prompting the President’s directive to constitute a multi-ministerial team to clear the backlog and come up with a funding plan.
Members of the committee are: Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, Budget and Economic Planning Minister Atiku Bagudu, Works Minister Dave Umahi, Education Minister Olatunji Alausa, Housing Minister Ahmed Dangiwa and Marine and Blue Economy Minister Gboyega Oyetola.
Others are the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation Tanimu Yakubu, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji.
Onanuga added: “All of them are expected to sit down, develop a plan as a committee, and then go to the President to tell him the solution they have found in allocating funds to pay contractors.”
He explained that the President was determined to “find the money and fix the problem,” even hinting that the government could borrow to settle verified obligations if necessary.
The development followed weeks of pressure from contractors, who have repeatedly protested delays in payment of certified arrears.
In September, the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) claimed during demonstrations in Abuja and at the National Assembly that more than N4 trillion was outstanding for 2024 capital projects.
The Ministry of Works had previously acknowledged a significant backlog and launched a verification exercise in January last year to account for roughly N1.5 trillion in unpaid federal highway contracts.
The issue has been further complicated by overlapping budget cycles, with 2024 capital components rolling into 2025.
Last month, the National Assembly approved an additional N1.15 trillion in domestic borrowing to help cover a widened 2025 deficit.
The government also tapped into the international markets with a $2.35 billion Eurobond to bolster its financing needs.
Also on December 3, members of the AICAN got an audience with Edun on the second day of their protest at the Ministry of Finance.
The protesters demanded payment for the contracts they executed for the Federal Government in 2024.
Also yesterday, Umahi expressed the Federal Government’s resolve to engage reputable indigenous contractors in the execution of critical infrastructural projects.
He dropped the hint during an inspection of the reconstruction of the Abuja-Keffi Highway.
The minister expressed satisfaction over the quality of the works on the road, which was awarded for reconstruction in October to JRB Construction Company Limited, an indigenous contractor.
The Abuja-Keffi dual carriageway project is a critical infrastructure development that aims to improve road connectivity and reduce travel time to Nasarawa State where most of the federal civil servants working in Abuja reside.
The project is expected to be completed in March.
The minister said: “This is the kind of organisation that will grow this country. Be assured that Mr. President is aware of what you are doing. And you are going to be paid to the last kobo.”
Umahi reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering indigenous companies.
He added: “We will continue to support and empower indigenous companies that have the capacity to deliver high-standard projects and contribute to the growth and development of the country.
“The recognition of JRB Construction Company Limited is a testament to the company’s exceptional performance and commitment to delivering high-standard projects.
“The company’s reputation as one of the top indigenous construction companies in Nigeria has been reinforced, and it is expected to continue to play a critical role in the development of infrastructure in the country.”
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