By Ifeanyi Okolie  and William Jimoh

Operations at five major oil firms in Kirikiri town, Oriade Local Council Development Council Area, LCDA, of Lagos State, were paralysed penultimate Monday and Tuesday when  residents protested against the deplorable state of roads in the community and lack of employment opportunities for its youths.

The community accused the oil firms of not only refusing to offer jobs to the youths of the area, but also destroyed the two major roads in the community (Cardoso and Karimu) by their heavy duty trucks.

Affected oil companies are Bovas Oil, Techno Oil, Swift Oil, Index Petrolube Africa and Fatgbems Oil.

The protesters who displayed several placards with inscriptions such as “repair our roads and provide jobs for our youths”, blamed the oil companies for the sorry state of the major roads in the town and vowed to halt the operations of the oil companies by preventing tanker trucks from entering into the community until their demands were met.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that residents of the community had on several occasions attempted to get the attention of the oil tank farms over the state of the roads.  “Our roads were not as bad as this when these oil tank farms were not here. It was motorable and there was no traffic gridlock, but ever since they commenced operations with their heavy duty trucks entering our town on a daily bases, the whole town is in a mess.

Highly inflammable trucks now park along our streets preventing vehicles and pedestrians from accessing their homes.   We’ve tried getting their attention on this matter and in July  2011, they had a memorandum of understanding with the community where  they agreed to rehabilitate the two major streets (Karimu and Cadoso) leading to their tank farms and other adjoining streets, but up until now, they have done nothing about it. All they care about is to make their money and leave the community in ruins,” Ojo Afolabi, a resident lamented.

*Protesting residents brandishing placards at Kirikiri

Operations of the oil tank farm

Meanwhile, the President General of Kirikiri Youth Association, Mr. Udoji Popoola,  who addressed newsmen during the protest, said the stoppage of the operations of the oil tank farm in the area remain the only option as oil companies situated in the area have failed in their promises to repair the roads.

“We are not fighting anybody; we are not destroying anything, and all we are agitating for is that the roads in this community are in a very bad condition and that it was high time they are repaired. They have been promising us for the past four years, telling us they are going to repair the road but all are lies. We have been holding series of meetings with them but all to no effect. We will stop their tankers from entering this place, until they come to round table with us,” he said.

Also, the Chairman, Oriade Local Development Council Area, LCDA, Ibrahim Sanusi, told VM that he has made several efforts to get the attention of the oil tank farm operators on the state of the road, which he said is beyond the capacity of his council.

“The funds I get from the state government are not enough to fix all the roads in my council and my officers and I have been trying to manage what we got. We have taken a critical look into the issue of Kirikiri and we’ve realised that the council cannot foot the bill. I have briefed the state governor about it; even though some of the roads in that community are controlled by the Federal Government, he has offered to assist me.

But the street inside the community where these heavy duty tanker trucks take to get to the tank farms are under the LCDA’s control.  I have urged the oil tank farms to assist the community in repairing the two major streets (Karimu and Cadoso) that lead to their tank farms and set a standard for their trucks, while I will use the little funds I have to repair other adjoining streets.   I can afford to repair these two major streets with the little funds I have to serve only cars and have them barricaded from heavy duty tanker trucks,” he informed.

Reacting to VM’s enquiry on the matter, the Deport Manager Index Petrolube Africa Limited, Dr. Mark,  who spoke on the phone, wanted to know if the oil tank farm owners are representatives of government whose duty it is to provide good roads for the people.  “Let me ask you: Are we now the government who has the duty to provide road for the people.  In fact we don’t want to join issues with anyone,” he stated.