Press Releases

LASG to Establish Petrol Chemical Plant

Jan 3, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday promised to ensure that a petrol chemical plant comes on stream in Lagos before the end of the tenure of the present administration in the State.

Governor Fashola who spoke while inaugurating the State Committee on Mineral Resources and Environmental Management at Alausa said towards this end, the government is working with investors in the Lekki Free Trade Zone to ensure that all end products used in the zone are not wasted.

He also accused federal agencies in Lagos particularly the Nigeria Inland Water ways Authority (NIWA) of contributing to the degradation of the environment through granting of licenses to all sorts of miners.

He cited the example of the Goshen estate area in Ajah where illegal excavation and digging of sand has resulted in massive gullies which has gone as far as 50metres into the sea.

He alerted that if not checked, the act could precipitate a major ecological disaster which may have a national effect if allowed to occur.

The Governor said it was disappointing that the nation has not applied technology to develop its natural resources beyond the crude form thus importing refined products at huge cost. Failure to apply technology, he lamented in some basic areas like oil pipeline laying has taken its toll on the health of the people.

He specifically mentioned Baruwa and Ipaja area of Lagos State where people live with polluted water in their wells and boreholes resulting in many people developing cancer.

In the 21st century, Governor Fashola said it was almost unthinkable that crude oil pipelines across the nation could not be encased or fitted with sensor detector system which could automatically detect any case of vandalism immediately it occurs.

He asked the committee to examine and take up the issue of tankers that daily ply Ejigbo road to lift fuel from the PPMC depot with the NNPC Management and ensure that the area benefits from the resources that are transported through it by the NNPC picking the bill for the repairs of the road.

Governor Fashola said in any federating system, the government at the centre is expected to exist for the development of the central government and the component states in order to ensure even development.

He appealed for understanding from the people of Lagos on the construction of BRT lanes going on at Ikorodu road, pleading that the difficulties are going to be a temporary price to pay for a permanent experience of good times.

Governor Fashola expressed the determination of the state to allow the mining sector to thrive by creating the necessary enabling environment.

He also said it is hoped that the new law reforms being implemented would enable the effective growth of the mining industry.

According to the State Governor, the involvement and participation of other tiers of government for joint management of the mining sector in collaboration with the Federal Government would broaden and harmonize the operation of the mining sector.

The Governor said “our administration would support and do its best in order to ensure the success of this new and encouraging initiative between the Federal and the Lagos State Government in the overall interest of the citizens of Lagos State ”

The Eight member committee is headed by Dr (Mrs) Ihuoma Ekeh and includes Mrs S.O. Raji , Mrs A.A Adeoba, Surveyor Olatunbosun Oluremi, Mr K.A Ibiyemi, Mr Sheriff Savage, Engineer R.E Okpekpe and Mrs Olufunke Babade.