Lawmaker representing Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency (PDP) at the House of Representatives, Hon. Oghene Egoh has backed residents of Ijegun Egba Satellite town in Lagos in saying no to the planned extension of marine services by Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) in the area.
Speaking to participants in a stakeholders meeting organised by the NPA at Rockview Hotel in Lagos, Egoh said the arrangement to extend marine services to Ijegun Satellite Town is an exercise in futility and is totally rejected considering the present plight of residents of the area.
The General Manager, Hydro and Dredging of the NPA, Mr. Olumide Omotoso who led the NPA officials stated that the plan to navigate the water channel at Ijegun have been approved by the Federal Government since 2016 but was delayed due to respect for procedural process and the need for stakeholders input. Omotosho however reiterated that the NPA did not authorize anyone to build tank farm or container terminal in a residential area.
Also speaking, the chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Michael Imitini lamented the pains residents passed through on daily basis in the area. According him, letters have been sent to the federal government, NPA, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and the National Assembly in respect to the activities of the tank farms and container operators to no avail. He said only the Ministry of Environment responded. Imitini insisted that based on their sad daily experiences, the residents in unison reject the NPA’s planned extension of marine services in the area.
However, Egoh in a response said he passionately share the plights of the residents and others doing business in the area. He stressed that the activities of the tank farms owner and terminal operators have totally paralysed businesses in the area.
In his words: “People leave their homes to work as early as 4.30am and return late by 11pm. Children no longer go to school because trailers and containers are parked on the roads.”
The lawmaker stated that if the tank farms activities must continue, they must build six lane roads in and out and railway service to carry petrol tankers to decongest the road.
According to him, the residents have written new petitions stating their grievances to the National Assembly and other related agencies of government. He promised following up on the petition at the National Assembly to achieve desired results.