‘Give and Take’ as Midoil commits 3 Lagos Communities to Land Agreement for Refinery Project

In what could turn out the first of its kind in arriving at commitment between Companies and their Host Communities over Land matters and Community Relations, Midoil Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited, has successfully reached a landmark Agreement over a 365 Hectares of Land in three Lagos Communities of Arogbo, Ererufu and Sekungba in Ikosi Ejirin Local Council Development Area of the State.

The landmark Event tagged ‘Unveiling of Midoil 3-IN-1 Investment Opportunities which took place at the famous Lagos Sheraton Hotel on Sunday was a beehive of activities and the atmosphere, a mixture of Carnival and Business as Management, Staff, Consultants, Investors, and friends of the Company, the Delegation of the three Communities led by their Traditional Rulers, the Media and invited Members of the Public took their designated positions in the gathering.

The Event was kicked off by the Chairman of the Occasion, Babatunde Johnson Kokumo, a Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police who in his Opening Remarks, painted a gloomy picture of Nigeria’s Economy, describing it as tattered, battered and depressed and said the coming of Midoil as a major Player in Nigeria’s Economy could not have been at a better time.

“Simply put, we are in a state of Economic Depression and it is evidently clear that Private Sector Participation is a key to reviving the Nation’s Economy.

“Midoil a Major Private Sector Participant is coming in to fill a huge gap in the Oil and Gas Industry and make Nigeria less dependent on Imported Refined Petroleum Products as well as provide Jobs for the Unemployed,” he emphasised.

The entering of the Executive Chairman of Midoil Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited, Elizabeth Omolara Akintonde into the gathering elicits a thunderous ovation even among the Delegations of the three Communities. It was glaring before the eyes of those present that she had made a positive impact on the lives of Members of the Communities and their respective Communities. There is no doubt about this as the Leaders of the Communities join in the welcoming dance to usher her into the gathering.

She delved straight into the business of the day as she began her address with the trajectory of the Project as captured in the Mantra of the Company: THE VISION, THE JOURNEY AND THE REALITY.

Establishment of a Refinery according to her, requires large expanse of Land and through a former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, Midoil was able to acquire the required Land Space sufficient for the Refinery Project and all its Ancillaries including Housing for its Expatriate, Nigerian Senior, Middle and Junior Staff Quarters.

“We received our Land Allocation Letter on the 24^th of April, 2014 and got the Approved License to establish (LTE) by the Department of Petroleum Resources now known as Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.”

She was very blunt as she went through some of the initial challenges encountered by the Company.

“Unfortunately, we have been disappointed by some of the Traditional Settlers and Community Leaders whose supposed Land falls within our Lagos State Allocated Land as they engaged in the selling of our Land to Third Parties.

“The Kabiyesi of Ejinrin we were told encouraged the Baales of Lumodan, Ododugba, Jaginrin, Mogo-Olowu and a Faction of Arogbo Communities to renege on our mutual and duly signed Memorandum of Understanding including our Joint Meetings at the Official Home and Office of former Governor Fashola in respect of the acquired Land.

“Our mutual Agreement for Midoil to inhabit the Land in peace as well as having received some Financial benefits from Midoil over the years, were breached with the latest activities of the above named Communities encouraged by the Elejinrin of Ejinrin,” she lamented.

She warns that ongoing activities of Land grabbing and selling by the Leaders of these Communities, if not stopped, will jeopardise Midoil’s planned development of the Communities.

“We are very reluctant to resort to the use of Security Agencies to enforce our Rights, neither do we intend to destroy our current peaceful relationship to achieving this laudable Project that will bring unimaginable development to all the Communities.

“The once peaceful and expectant Communities are now so tensed that those who bought our Land without proper checks, are now after those who collected monies from them for refunds”

She commended the Baales of Arogbo, Ererufu and Sekungba Communities for refusing to be induced by ‘cheap money’ while extending the gratitude of the Board of Directors of Midoil to them for their patience and perseverance.

She gladly announced the coming on board of three Consortium of Investors whose Investments in the Project are worth $5bn.

“It is an Investment and the three Investors have given us their approvals in principle, meeting the conditions of the Investment and proceed with payment for the Equipment.

“The Funds will be released within the next nine months subject to meeting the conditions attached to the Agreements. Don’t forget, Nigeria is still not a Beautiful Bride to any Investor Overseas. We are all looking to make things better so that more Investors can come in. Mr. President has also started a good plan to make Nigeria attractive for Investments.”

Highlight of the Event was the Land Agreement Signing Ceremony between Midoil Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited and the three Communities of Arogbo, Ererufu and Sekungba represented by their Traditional Rulers (Chief Adebiyi Adesanya Oyenubi of Arogbo, Chief Gabriel Lawal of Ererufu and Chief Solomon Omotayo of Sekungba).

The Land Agreement Signing Ceremony involving handing of undisclosed sums of money to Leaders of the three Communities, was witnessed by Lawyers of the Company and those of the respective Communities.

The Baales of Arogbo, Ererufu and Sekungba who were overjoyed by the development, took turn to express their gratitude to Midoil and promised their cooperation towards ensuring a peaceful and enabling Environment for the success of the Refinery and its Ancillary Projects.

Other Projects unveiled at the Event include Serene City Properties and Serene Partners Energy Tank Farms and Filling Stations.