Goffrey Okorie (Depot Manager)
Yes, I do because there is need to expand to other sides that have such facilities and I think it’s a welcome development. In economics, we have what is called demand and supply; there are some goods that are complimentary to each other and one of the preconditions for locating a tank farm is to look at the nearness of the jetty and so if government says tank farms should move out of Lagos, they must locate them to areas where there is vessel accessibility and navigation, the channels must be deep enough for vessels to navigate and so that the tanks farms can pipe down to the place and receive their products.
You will also see that Lagos state; as far as commercial activities is concerned is the biggest in Nigeria today, it also serves as a distributing point to the East, and also to the North, the question now is ‘what is the consumption rate in these areas, because in the East, we don’t have much industry that consumes products, majority of the diesel imported into the country today are being consumed in the North.
Also you cannot push somebody to go and put structure in a place where he knows that it will be very difficult to recoup his money because the aim of every investor is to make profit. Government should try and create an enabling environment that will lure people into going into these specific areas in form of subsidy and incentives and you will see that whether our refineries are working or not there will be constant supply.
Jubril Ehirim (Admin. Manager, Guyglo Oil & Gas)
I think the government’s decision is wise because its not wise to put all you eggs in one basket, the way these tank farms are being cited in some areas of Lagos along Kirikiri, you will find out that if there is explosion at the farm, then the whole city is doomed.
Another thing is that adequate planning was not done before approval was given for the construction of these facilities, there are no spaces for the trucks to park and so on, and this has in return had effects on the traffic and all of us as individuals.
Dredging is very necessary in areas like Badagry, Oguta, Calabar and Onne were we have open access to sea. I believe that if people cooperate, it will work because tankers coming from the north or east will not have to get to Lagos before they can buy products and this will further take the traffic pressure out of Lagos.
Olanife Adeoye (Oil marketer)
The order did not take into cognizance the actual landed area of Lagos state, there are areas that still has so many room for ports and tank farm locations but the place is just fallow, areas like Ibeju lekki, Epé and so on by the Atlantic ocean and the lagoon, Oando is building a tank farm there, Chevron also has their NLNG tank farm there too.
We should be focused on moving outside of Apapa to the undeveloped areas were we have virgin lands, in these areas you can hardly see any residential building close to the jetties, compared what obtains in Apapa.
Mr. Tony Odiaka (Oil marketer)
I quite agree with the directive because there are too many of them here and the whole area is congested. Already, during the raining season the tank farms here find it difficult to manage, it’s not really helping us and I think if they can shift it to other areas it will be better.
Talking about the safety in other parts of the country where there are militants, I don’t think the militancy can last forever, they can only agitate and if they are given what they want they will desist.
The issue is that Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria so it’s not the security that makes investors not to focus outside, there is depot in Calabar and Port Harcourt, but these people still come to Lagos to buy.
Let us pray that the idea works so that it will enhance those other parts of the country and also to develop them economically, it will also further help to create job opportunities for the indigenes of the states and further put an end to militancy.
Tokunboh Oguntomisin (Depot manager)
It is true that we have enough tank farms scattered across Lagos state but I still think the policy is very narrow; the government should make it broader by creating and formulating more structured transport system. For example the rail system should be looked into and be ensured that it’s working so that products can be transported easily through this means.
The channels at Calabar, Port Harcourt and Onne ports should be dredged to accommodate bigger vessels and thereby reducing the pressure on Lagos state. These are the issues they should have considered before giving such directive.
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