With the completion of the sod-turning ceremony, Midoil Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited officially launched construction operations in Lagos.
Shekungba, Ikosi/Ejinrin Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, recently experienced the turning of the sod.
Elizabeth Omolara, who is the executive chairman of Midoil led dignitaries around the vast tract of land extending across several settlements in the Ikosi/Ejinrin Local government.
Akintonde reassured leaders and community members that the refinery would bring about immediate growth and provide both direct and indirect jobs, transforming lives in their locality.
She applauded the community leaders for standing on their toes and refusing to be misled by people trying to buy them off with money.
Akintode’s birthday coincided with the turning of Sod, and as a result, he assured the people that the company would help boost the nation’s energy industry with a refining ability to produce 100,000bpd.
“All these bushes you see today, in the next couple of months, you will see them no more,” Akintonde stated, assuring the residents of her intentions to over the project to conclusion.
Hajia Amina Abdullahi, a director at Midoil and chairman of Serencity staff housing estate, expressed her joy at the project’s commencement, which had been delayed for over a decade.
“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 stated.
Retired Justice Olusola Hunponu-Wusu, a founding member of the proposed refinery, opined that in order to increase the nation’s refining capacity and eliminate petroleum imports, more refineries were needed.
Hunponu-Wusu encouraged the nation to increase its low oil production at the moment, expressing confidence that feedstock would not be a problem once the Midoil refinery is operational.
Ifedola Okupevi, the Bishop of the Lagos Anglican Communion, prayed for the timely completion of the project while turning the sod.
Recall that on March 17, 2024, the Chairman of Midoil signed contracts with the representatives of Ererufu, Shekungba, and Arogbo while also giving checks to the host villages.
She said the land allocation letter was received from the Lagos State Government on April 24, 2014, and that a sizable portion of the land was obtained from the government of former Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola.
“Subsequently, on January 24, 2017, we got the licenses to establish the refinery from then Department of Petroleum Resources,” she remarked.
Akintonde said: “It has taken Midoil 10 years to secure interested investors that are willing to invest in Nigeria and our project. But to the glory of God Almighty, we now have three consortiums of investors willing to invest $5bn with us.
“The sourcing of the required funding from overseas has been the major reason for the delay.”
