By Jane Osamo
The residents, who had written petitions to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in 2018 and 2019, argued that the filling station would pose safety and health threats to the community.
Residents of Irawo Osan, Omotayo and Idowu Layemo in Ketu-Alapere area of Lagos State have kicked against an alleged move by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa and his allies to build a petrol filling station close to residential houses.
The residents reportedly made their decision to object to the building of the petrol station by the Speaker and his allies, known at a meeting between them and Obasa’s representative, Hakeem Olusola Sokunle, a member of the State House of Assembly representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 1.
The residents, who had written petitions to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in 2018 and 2019, argued that the filling station would pose safety and health threats to the community.
According to them, there is already a gas station and two petrol stations in the community.
SaharaReporters gathered that the project was started by a member of the State House of Assembly representing Shomolu Constituency 1, Rotimi Olowo, but was stiffly resisted by the residents. It was however reportedly sold to the Speaker.
The residents during the meeting stressed that having another filling station in the area will not only contravene environmental and urban and town planning laws, it will also pose a threat to the community.
Lekan Seriki, who is the son of Alhaji Seriki, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who resides in the neighbourhood with his father, also kicked against the construction saying, “The matter should be laid to rest as it contravenes the Urban and Town Planning Law and our decision is binding.”
“There are filling stations around here already. The project site is situated between Doyin Omololu and Irawo Osan Street. There is a gas plant on Doyin Omololu with just a building (car wash) between it and the gas plant.
“There is a G&G fuel station five buildings before the proposed site. There is another fuel station just after Biola bus stop which also has a gas plant some 100 meters away from it,” one of the residents said.
Another resident urged Obasa to listen to the people and not impose the construction of the filling station on the community.
“It can be used for a shopping mall or a banking hall and it can also be used for some other things. This is our main point. There are filling stations around, citing another filling station here is dangerous for the people in a situation of a fire accident,” he said.
The residents pointed out that based on the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) guidelines, 2015, for approval to construct and operate petrol station, the total number of petrol stations expected to be within a 2 km stretch on both sides of the road should not be more than four including the one under consideration; and the distance between an existing station and the proposed one should not be less than 400 meters.
The residents had in one of their petitions noted: “The proposed filling station is right beside a residential building that already has a gas retail station behind it. In addition, there are already two existing petrol filling stations within one hundred and twenty (120) metres radius of each other between Biola Bus Stop and around Oba Nle Aro bus stop on the same Demurin road where the prospective one is sought to be built.
“We know, by consultation with experts, that two filling stations are never lawfully allowed within less than one hundred (100) metres of each other in a residential area.
“The prospective entrepreneur wishes in contravention of the law and regulation to proceed with the gravely risky filling station construction on a property abutting a single lane road dovetailing into our three streets.”
When contacted for comments on the issue, the Speaker, Obasa did not answer calls made to his phone number nor reply to a text message sent to him even though the message was delivered.
