Midoil Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited has finally broken ground, commencing construction works in Lagos.
The ground-breaking ceremony took place recently at Shekumba in Ikosi/Ejinrin Development Area of Lagos State.
The Executive Chairperson of Midoil, Mrs. Elizabeth Omolara Akintonde led dignitaries to the sprawling land that spans several communities in the Ikosi/Ejinrin Development Area of the local council.
Akintonde assured leaders and community members that the refinery would transform the area through immediate development and generate direct and indirect jobs. She commended the village leaders for not being misled by some people who tried to break the agreement by offering bribes.
Mrs. Akintonde, who celebrated his 74th birthday at the same time as the groundbreaking ceremony, explained that the Midoil refinery, which will have a refining capacity of 100,000 barrels per day, will enrich Nigeria’s energy landscape.
“All these bushes you see today, in the next couple of months, you will see them no more,” Mrs. Akintonde said, assuring people of her determination to make the project a reality.
Hajia Amina Abdullahi, one of the Midoil Directors and Chairman of Serenecity Staff Housing Estate, expressed joy that the project has finally commenced after more than a decade of delay.
“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 explained.
Retired Judge Olusola Hunponu-Wusu, a founding member of the proposed refinery, was of the view that more refineries are needed to boost refining capacity and stop fuel importation.
Hunponu-Wusu advised the country to increase its current low oil production and expressed confidence that there would be no setback in feedstock supply when the Midoile refinery is eventually commissioned.
During the ground-breaking ceremony, the Anglican Bishop of Lagos, Ifedola Okpevi, prayed for the project to be completed in due time.
A report flashback revealed that on March 17, 2024, the chairman of Midoil signed the agreement with representatives of Shekungba, Arogbo, and Ererufu, and presented cheques to the host communities.
She explained that the vast tract of land was acquired by the administration of former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, saying the land allocation letter was received from the Lagos State Government on April 24, 2014.
“Subsequently, on January 24, 2017, we got the licenses to establish the refinery from the then Department of Petroleum Resources,” she said.
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.”
