By Uzor Odigbo
The Lagos State Government has emphasised that it will not tolerate any physical development in the State, particularly Petroleum Tank Farms and Filling Stations, without Planning Permit.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, disclosed this in a chat stressing that the Ministry is statutorily mandated to regulate all forms of physical developments in all parts of the State.
He explained that the Physical Planning Law did not leave room for any conflict of interests and has even been supported by a Supreme Court judgment, which specifically placed the responsibility and regulation for physical development within a territory under the purview of the State Government.
Salako decried the situation in which the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), a Federal Government Agency, issued licenses to facilities without recourse to the Lagos State Government for Physical Planning Permit, stage certification and certificate of completion of the Tank Farms.
“It is even more worrisome that the State Government in a bid to ensure orderly, organised and sustainable development, would seal off illegal and unapproved Tank Farms and Filling Stations while the DPR would go behind to unseal such facilities”.
“We urge the Federal Government Agency to desist from this untoward act and join us in encouraging promoters of these facilities to respect the law by ensuring that their structures have all necessary Physical Planning Approvals”, he said.
On the continued existence of Petroleum Tank Farms in Ijegun-Egba, the Commissioner said that no new approval has been granted in the area, whilst the existing facilities are expected to implement corporate social responsibility measures towards the development of the host communities.
He enjoined fresh applicants for Tank Farms approval to consider moving to approved locations in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, the leadership of host communities of the Tank Farms have exonerated the Lagos State Government on the proliferation of the facilities in the Ijegun-Egba axis of the State.
Expressing confidence in the efforts of the Lagos State Government to sanitise the activities of the Tank Farm Operators, the Chairman of Satellite Town Forum, Mr. Governor Emitini, implored the DPR to consider the safety of residents and cooperate with the Lagos State Government and the host communities to resolve pending issues.
Recall that the Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Monday, reopened eight tank farm facilities around the Satellite and Ijegun communities over violation laws on town planning
