Midoil Refining and Petrochemicals Corporate Restricted has after all carried out the turning of sod rite, marking the graduation of development actions in Lagos.
The turning of the sod took playground at Shekungba, Ikosi/Ejinrin Native Council Building Branch of Lagos Situation just lately.
The Government Chairman of Midoil, Mrs Elizabeth-Omolara Akintonde, led dignitaries to the immense expanse of land spanning numerous communities at Ikosi/Ejinrin Native Council Building Branch.
Akintonde confident leaders and individuals of the communities that the refinery would grow to be their gardens by way of bringing rapid construction, developing each direct and oblique jobs.
She counseled the village heads for refusing to be misled by way of some people who attempted to bribe them to renege on their word of honour.
Akintonde, whose 74th birthday coincided with the turning of the sod, said that the Midoil refinery would spice up Nigeria’s power ground with a refining capability of 100,000 barrels in line with occasion.
“All these bushes you see today, in the next couple of months, you will see them no more,” Akintonde said, assuring the society of her resolution to peer the challenge to truth.
One of the crucial Administrators of Midoil and Chairman of Serenecity Body of workers Housing Property, Hajia Amina Abdullahi, expressed pleasure that the challenge had after all commenced then over a decade prolong.
“We have faith in God that we will witness the inauguration of the refinery. We know this is a big project that will go through many processes, but with the turning of the sod today, we have taken the right step,” she said.
A settingup member of the proposed refinery, retired Justice Olusola Hunponu-Wusu, opined that the rustic wanted extra refineries to spice up its refining capability and restrain gasoline importation.
Hunponu-Wusu instructed the rustic to ramp up its wave low oil manufacturing, expressing self belief that feedstock would no longer be a setback when the Midoil refinery after all comes on board.
Era appearing the turning of the sod, the Bishop of Lagos Anglican Communion, Ifedola Okupevi, prayed for the of completion of the challenge on the proper hour.
The PUNCH remembers that the Chairman of Midoil, on March 17, 2024, signed word of honour with the representatives of Shekungba, Arogbo and Ererufu, presenting cheques to the host communities.
She defined {that a} immense expanse of land was once obtained from the management of former Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, mentioning that the land allocation letter was once won from the Lagos Situation Executive on April 24, 2014.
“Subsequently, on January 24, 2017, we got the licenses to establish the refinery from then Department of Petroleum Resources,” she remarked.
Akintonde stated: “It has taken Midoil 10 years to keep buyers which can be prepared to put money into Nigeria and our challenge. However to the consideration of God Almighty, we have now 3 consortiums of buyers prepared to take a position $5bn with us.
“The sourcing of the required funding from overseas has been the major reason for the delay.”