By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie
The Lagos State government has said only eight out of the 41 tank farms in the state had planning permits.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, made this known during a meeting with the operators in Ikeja.
He has therefore ordered them to get tank farm operators one week to get the permits or face sanctions.
According to him, most of the tank farms have been operating illegally against Section 27 of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) regulations 2019, which stipulates that anyone who builds without planning permit commits an offence.
“Considering the importance of the tank farms to the economy of the country, it is pertinent that they embrace best practices and operate in the most friendly manner to the host communities,” he stated.
Salako said the operations of the tank farms had caused many challenges for the state, including pipeline vandalism, environmental degradation, fire outbreak, traffic congestion and destruction of public infrastructure.
He stated that viewing the challenges with serious concern, the government had chosen to engage operators of tank farms to find a lasting solution.
To ease the challenges, the commissioner maintained that it was paramount for the tank farms to provide complementary facilities and services such as holding bays, traffic personnel as well as the maintenance of buffer zone of 250 to 500 meters between a tank farm and the community.
He added that the government had approved the preparation of Action Area Plan for Ijegun Egba to address the planning issues raised by the operations of tank farms such as road connectivity, security and transportation linkage.
The Commissioner for Energy and Minerals Resources, Olalere Odusote, through his Head of Oil and Gas Department, Sesan Odukoya, stated that the discussions reinforced previous engagements with the operators of these installations by the government to finding a lasting solution to challenges.
On the need to give back to the communities, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development, Ganiyu Adele Ayuba, urged operators to partner the government to deliver well-coordinated and impactful Corporate Social Responsibility to the host communities.
Two operators Mr. Joseph Anabel and Mr. Ibraheem Yaro Muhammed expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and pledged to collaborate with the government for improvement.
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