The entire residents of Ijegun-Egba-Satellite Town Amuwo Odofin local government area of Lagos State, under the auspices of Satellite Town Forum has kicked against Federal Government’s approval of siting a tankfarm owned by NorthWest Petroleum in their community.
Piqued by the deplorable state of the community which is a clear consequence of indiscriminate siting of Tankfarms that does the residents more harm than good, the residents registered their displeasure noting that the area is already choked-up, densely populated and fully developed.
According to a statement jointly signed by the association’s Chairman Mr. Govenor Imitini and the Secretary Mr. Kolawole Ariyo, the new approval negate efforts of the Federal House of Representatives to address the anomaly.
“This is despite the commitment by the House of Representive, (9th Assembly) Committee on relocation of tankfarms and container terminals from residential areas headed by Hon. Sergius Oguns and other inter-ministerial representatives from the federal government, Lagos and Amuwo local government, that there will not be any new tankfarm in the community.
The aggrieved residents in a parley held on Friday 14th July 2023, unanimously denounce and reject the approval of the tankfarm stating that, “the area is already choked-up, fully developed, densely populated residential area.
“We have unequivocally clamoured for the relocation of all existing tankfarms and container terminals from Ijegun-Egba-Satellite Town because of the dangers and hazards they constitute to the purely residential community.
“We cannot live side by side with highly inflammable petroleum products. This business is killing our people and has turned the community to a deplorable state. We now live in fear and dread.
“How can the federal government under President Tinubu do this to us? When we are already looking forward to the relocation of all these businesses to Ibeju-Lekki, where Lagos State government claimed to have provided large expanse of land for these rancorous, dangerous businesses?
“Why will the Federal Government, Lagos State and Amuwo-Odofin Local government collude to wipe off the community? Why establishing new tankfarm, when we are told that Dangote Refinery will commence operations this month?
“We want the whole world to hold the President Tinubu led government, Federal Ministry of Environment, DPR and Ministry of Petroleum as well as Lagos State government and Amuwo-Odofin local government responsible and accountable, should anything untowards happen to the residents of Ijegun-Egba-Satellite Town.
“We totally and emphatically reject NorthWest Petroleum or any new tankfarm for that matter, and hereby call on the Tinubu government to put a halt to these and in addition to relocation of all tankfarms and container terminals from Ijegun-Egba-Satellite Town.” The statement read.