Demolition: Assets Filling Station Boss loses Over N1billion

The General Manager, Assets Oil and Gas, Ojoo in Ibadan, Okediji Adekunle on Wednesday said the owner of the company lost over 1 Billion Naira to the unjustifiable demolition of the filling station.

He said the chairman of the demolished station has been hospitalised as a result of the debt he incurred.

Assets Oil and Gas, Ojoo was demolished by the state government for allegedly contravening environmental and planing law of the state.

He noted that the company secured all the necessary documents from the federal and state governments, as well as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

According to him, the company had approached the court to stop government from further demolition of the structure but the government was adamant.

Narrating the Genesis of the crisis, Adekunle said; “We acquired that land through the federal government because the land belongs to the Federal Government. We have all the papers for the land. As expected, we approached the state government for approval before we started the construction. The state government granted our request for filling station to be sited on that land and we proceeded.

“After the construction, we began operation in October 2018. Since then, people were applauding the filling station for its aesthetic value in that bus stop and its illumination at night. We operate 24/7 even at midnight. Our security architecture was superb. But last year, the state government through the ministry of lands visited us and informed us that we have contravened environmental law despite our CofO. We appealed to them but they were adamant.

“Despite the fact that we have all the requirements, they decided to seal up to station. We appeal to the Oyo state government to pity us. Before the station was sealed, we have up to 70 workers earning their income through the station. Those people are jobless today.

“Again two days ago, they came to demolish the other part of the structure. They have destroyed all the goods in our supermarkets. They have destroyed products worth billion of Naira there. We have taken steps to ensure that we stop the state government from demolishing the structure but they have started destroying it. Our going to court was not to foment trouble but to maintain peace. We have approached political leaders in Ibadan land to appeal to him but yet, we are they are still demolishing it. We have petroleum products in all our tanks. We appeal to the governor to stop further demolition of the structure.”

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Taiwo Adisa said the demolition was not sentimental because the structure was overriding public interest.

Adisa said government had written letter to owners of the affected properties before the demolition, but the Assets oil and gas did not take it serious.

Comments

Suspected Thugs Invade Edo Assembly, Remove Roofs and Mace

The lawmaker stepped the wrong toe after declaring his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. As the development aggravates amid political tension preluding the governorship election in the southsouth state, some men were caught on camera taking down the roofs of the assembly and breaking the mace figure on it. Loyalists to Godwin Obaseki and APC lawmakers working against the reelection of the governor are currently are said to be clashing inside the complex. Governor Obaseki had earlier threatened to unleash violence in full force should the ruling party APC take to the rampage path. The governor made this vow while addressing pressmen as the gubernatorial election in the south-south state draws closer. Edo election has been scheduled for September with both APC and PDP highlighting the guber race in a fierce feud that has put both parties at public loggerhead. Kog...

50 feared dead in fresh katsina attacks

The attack happened hours after residents of Yantumaki Town in Danmusa Local Government Area of the state took to the streets to protest the rising insecurity particularly kidnapping in their area, following the abduction a man along with his daughter in the early hours of Tuesday. Security operatives reportedly came to the aid of the residents about three hours after the attackers had left at about 6:00 pm. The spokesman of the Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah was yet to respond to inquiries as at press time. It could be recalled that on Sunday last week, the 55-year-old chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Batsari Local Government Area of the state, Abdulhamid Mamman Sani, was killed by bandits after he resisted them from kidnapping him. In the meantime, no fewer than 12 district heads operating in the eight Frontline Local Government Areas of Katsina state have reportedly threatened to run away from their respective communities. Drawn from Batsari, Dandume, Danmus...

Breaking: Lagos senator, Adebayo Osinowo, dies at 64

The National Assembly, Adebayo Osinowo popularly known as ‘Pepperito’ is dead. He was said to have died on Monday after a brief illness at the age of 64. Before moving to the National Assembly, Osinowo was a four-time member of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Schools To Remain Shut- Fed Govt

Pupils and students will stay longer at home because schools cannot reopen soon, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 said on Thursday. The government cited the need to protect the vulnerable and halt the spread of the virus in communities as reasons. Besides, the government is worried about the rising cases of the virus pandemic in the country. School children were sent home in March to prevent Coronavirus spread. PTF chair Boss Mustapha said: “Nigeria witnessed a spike in number of confirmed cases when the number of recorded cases jumped to 663 on June 9. This number gives us cause for concern as a Task Force and as a nation. “The PTF will re-emphasize its appeal to governments at the sub-national level as well as our security agencies to enforce the guidelines and protocols firmly. “The PTF would also be meeting with the heads of these agencies to further fine-tune strategies to ensure compliance,” he added. “We must ensure that our goal is to stay alive and remain COV...

Southwestblog

Search This Blog