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SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 18, 2019, PAGE 29<br />
•Trucks obstructing one of the roads in Satellite Town<br />
Continued from page 28<br />
dangerous”, Okafor said.<br />
“We have had fire outbreaks and loss of<br />
lives in the past due to these tank farms.<br />
Notwithstanding, there is the looming<br />
danger of a massive explosion because<br />
of the carelessness of several tank<br />
farms. These tank farm owners have no<br />
regard for human lives.<br />
“Sometimes, some of their tankers<br />
filled with petroleum products leak on<br />
the roads. They are talking of<br />
consultation with members of the<br />
community and residents yet you still<br />
see a lot of problems in the community.<br />
What manner of consultation is that?<br />
“We want people to hear the voice of<br />
the community. Let me categorically say<br />
that we are putting the cart before the<br />
horse here, like starting a building with<br />
the roof, that is what they are doing and<br />
that is the Nigerian factor which is very<br />
bad.’’<br />
An-on-the-spot assessment by Sunday<br />
Vanguard showed that some of the tank<br />
farms are built on natural flood<br />
channels and drainages.<br />
Whenever it rains, some parts of the<br />
Paradise lost!<br />
•Satellite Town frets <strong>over</strong> invasion of 2.5trillion<br />
litres of petrol<br />
neighbourhood are flooded as a result<br />
of the blockage of the channels.<br />
Marwa Road, leading to the tank farms,<br />
is the only major link road in the<br />
community and it is in a state of<br />
disrepair.<br />
Also, residents linked the presence of<br />
the tank farms to health challenges in<br />
the now densely populated<br />
neighbourhood.<br />
It was alleged that there is an increase<br />
in the rate of waterborne diseases<br />
especially among children in Satellite<br />
Town<br />
The residents equally said fumes oozing<br />
from the tank farms constitute health<br />
hazards.<br />
Landlords flee<br />
Further investigations showed that<br />
many landlords have either abandoned<br />
their houses or sold them <strong>over</strong> the fear<br />
of the tank farms. Many residents are<br />
also moving out of the area as a result<br />
of the situation.<br />
Businesses in the once serene<br />
community are being shut down due to<br />
the deplorable state of the environment.<br />
Okafor further told Sunday Vanguard:<br />
‘’The activities of trucks and the<br />
deplorable nature of major roads<br />
constitute a major part of the problems<br />
caused by these tank farms. The fact<br />
that there are no alternative routes to<br />
escape the gridlock caused by fuel<br />
trucks worsen the situation.’’<br />
Other residents, who spoke<br />
anonymously, lamented that the Oriade<br />
Local Council Development Authority,<br />
LCDA, which is located on the failed<br />
link road, does nothing to ameliorate<br />
their suffering.<br />
In fact, from the deplorable state of<br />
Satellite Town, it is obvious that the<br />
LCDA looks the other way while truck<br />
drivers constitute danger to residents.<br />
Oriade LCDA<br />
unconcerned<br />
The LCDA was accused of not<br />
performing even the least of its<br />
functions, which was identified as<br />
clearing of drainage systems and<br />
grading of failed feeder roads.<br />
“Even when the LCDA clears the<br />
blocked drainage systems, the specks of<br />
dirt are left on the roads beside the<br />
cleared drainage systems. They are<br />
making money from the truck drivers;<br />
that is why they don’t care about the<br />
dangers posed by the tank farms.<br />
“If the situation continues, in two years<br />
time, Satellite Town will be a ghost city.<br />
I believe when that happens, those who<br />
sold land to the tank farm owners<br />
would realise how foolish they were.’’<br />
Bishop Charles and Rev Carol Ighele(middle),flanked by Pastor Angela Okotie-<br />
Eboh,Theresa Johnson,Dr Shuana Baron,Kathy West and other ministers from<br />
the United States during the medical outreach done by Holy Spirit Mission,<br />
Lagos Nigeria in partnership with Healing Streams Ministry, USA<br />
Ikeja Electric, Magodo residents sign power supply agreement<br />
igeria’s Electricity Distribution<br />
NCompany, Ikeja Electric (IE) has signed<br />
an agreement with Magodo Resident<br />
Association to investin electricity<br />
infrastructure in the Estate as well as provide<br />
reliable and quality electricity supply to the<br />
residents.<br />
The contract, which is in line with the<br />
company’s Premium Power Purchase<br />
Agreement, was signed at the association’s<br />
community hall in Lagos with representatives<br />
of Ikeja Electric and Magodo Resident<br />
Association present.<br />
By this agreement, IE will provide Magodo<br />
residents with electricity supply beyond the<br />
existing standards with guaranteed<br />
performance levels. In addition to the<br />
improved supply of electricity to the Estate,<br />
there will also be access to dedicated Customer<br />
Care and Technical teams for prompt<br />
resolution of queries and/or technical issues<br />
within the Estate.<br />
The Chief Operating Officer of Ikeja<br />
Electric, Mrs. Folake Soetan, expressed<br />
confidence in the success of the trend-setting<br />
agreement which she noted was in line with<br />
the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment’s “willing seller,<br />
willing buyer” policy.<br />
“We are confident that this agreement will<br />
serve as a model for other power agreements<br />
in the power sector because, while it is in line<br />
with the Federal G<strong>over</strong>nment policy, it also<br />
reflects our unwavering commitment to our<br />
customers. This has also been made possible<br />
by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory<br />
Commission’s directive to DisCos to provide<br />
an enabling environment with exceptional<br />
service delivery,” she said.<br />
Soetan who signed on behalf of IE, described<br />
the agreement as a foremost partnership that<br />
would enhance growth and economic<br />
development within the community. She<br />
further emphasized on the importance of the<br />
agreement to both parties, while reiterating<br />
Ikeja Electric’s commitment to ensure<br />
adherence.<br />
From left: Founder, FCMB Group, Otunba Subomi Balogun, exchanging pleasantries<br />
with the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, during the Ojude<br />
Oba Festival held at Ijebu-Ode. With them is the G<strong>over</strong>nor of Ogun State, Dr.<br />
Dapo Abiodun and other dignitaries.<br />
The Chairman, Board of Trustees, Magodo<br />
Residents Association, Chief S.A. Owojori,<br />
commended the technical teams from both<br />
sides for a job well done. He described the<br />
signing ceremony as a significant<br />
achievement in the community’s efforts at<br />
enjoying uninterrupted power supply, noting<br />
that the agreement, if judiciously<br />
implemented, will strengthen the relationship<br />
between the community and Ikeja Electric.<br />
Others present at the ceremony from Ikeja<br />
From left; Chairman, Magodo Residents Association, Mr Jade Niboro;<br />
Chairman, Magodo Residents Board of Trustees, Chief Stephen Owojori; Chief<br />
Operating Officer (COO) Mrs Folake Soetan and Head, Legal and Regulatory,<br />
Mr. Babatunde Osadare both of Ikeja Electric, during the signing of the Premium<br />
Power agreement at the Magodo Town Hall, Lagos recently.<br />
Electric include, Chief Technical<br />
Coordinator, Engr. Sunday Oyewole, Chief<br />
Network Optimization, Engr. Abdullahi<br />
Mohammed, Head Legal & Regulatory, Mr.<br />
Babatunde Osadare, Business Manager,<br />
Shomolu Business Unit, Engr. Olanrewaju<br />
Yusuf and the Project Manager, Wale<br />
Atobatele. Members of the Magodo Resident<br />
Association present were Mr. Jade Niboro,<br />
Chairman, Magodo Resident Association,<br />
Akin Adepoju, General Secretary and Mr.<br />
Kunle Fashogbon amongst others.<br />
The Premium Power initiative is a power<br />
purchase agreement which entails a<br />
commitment to specific service level standards<br />
while the customer agrees to pay a tariff that<br />
is above the current MYTO tariff.<br />
US based pastor<br />
ors s to<br />
distribute free drugs<br />
in Lagos<br />
W<br />
ith the high rate of Nigerians needing<br />
medical care which a lot of them can<br />
barely afford, a delegation of ministers<br />
from the United States of America who are<br />
currently attending the Annual Women<br />
Convention of Holy Spirit Mission will be<br />
distributing free drugs to locals in some part<br />
of Lagos alongside other Nigerian medical<br />
practitioners. The Medical outreach which<br />
is done annually is organised by the Holy<br />
Spirit Mission Church in partnership with<br />
the Healing Streams Ministry, USA.<br />
Annually, drugs worth millions of dollars<br />
are distributed after thorough free medical<br />
checkup.
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