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| Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, Chairman, Integrated Oil&Gas Ltd. |
Chairman of Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd.
Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, has refuted the allegation of having started
construction works at the Tomaro community, proposed site for the company’s
industrial park.
Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, has refuted the allegation of having started
construction works at the Tomaro community, proposed site for the company’s
industrial park.
He described as ‘malicious’ and an attempt
to smear his reputation, a petition that said the company had started dredging the site to the detriment of the community inhabitants.
to smear his reputation, a petition that said the company had started dredging the site to the detriment of the community inhabitants.
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| Members of Onisiwo Community at a meeting with the company and environment department in Alausa, Lagos |
He frown completely at the development, as according to him,
the project was only still at the Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) stage that is being handled by a professional consultant.
Iheanacho expressed disgust over
the allegation while briefing newsmen at a joint stakeholders meeting including
members of the Onisiwo communities, on the issues that had made the rounds in
some media lately.
the allegation while briefing newsmen at a joint stakeholders meeting including
members of the Onisiwo communities, on the issues that had made the rounds in
some media lately.
He said, “We are here to refute the
completely untrue allegations passed in the press in the past two months. I
thank all those who have been here since yesterday.
completely untrue allegations passed in the press in the past two months. I
thank all those who have been here since yesterday.
“This allegation was by certain Mr Raymond
Gold and one Ms Tina Armstrong, who says she is a freelance reporter. They
absolutely told lies about the project.
Gold and one Ms Tina Armstrong, who says she is a freelance reporter. They
absolutely told lies about the project.
“The
first lie they told was that we had started working and that there were a lot
of machineries there, but we just started the EIA process, which is still
ongoing.
first lie they told was that we had started working and that there were a lot
of machineries there, but we just started the EIA process, which is still
ongoing.
“DPR licensing office does not allow you
start anything until you meet all their set standards and you are given the
licence to begin to construct.
start anything until you meet all their set standards and you are given the
licence to begin to construct.
On the allegation that we were dredging,
we investigated and found that they went to different sites all over Lagos;
Ijegun, ogogoro village take pictures and say it was our site.
we investigated and found that they went to different sites all over Lagos;
Ijegun, ogogoro village take pictures and say it was our site.
“But the community members are here to
confirm if any such project has taken place there,” he said.
confirm if any such project has taken place there,” he said.
Iheanacho also refuted claims that he had
threatened somebody, and described it as a ploy to tarnish his image.
threatened somebody, and described it as a ploy to tarnish his image.
He wondered that even the existing dredgers
in the area being used to dredge consistently over 20 years had not impacted on
the communities negatively.
in the area being used to dredge consistently over 20 years had not impacted on
the communities negatively.
Iheanacho said that rather than the fears
the unfounded allegations tried to illicit, the project would bring about
development to the communities and make available to them basic amenities for
their use.
the unfounded allegations tried to illicit, the project would bring about
development to the communities and make available to them basic amenities for
their use.
“We have a few investments which we intend
to put on Tomaro Island. With this project, we are trying to change the way
things are done in this sub-sector.
to put on Tomaro Island. With this project, we are trying to change the way
things are done in this sub-sector.
“Rather than import refined products, we
are finding ways of being able to refine our oil.
are finding ways of being able to refine our oil.
“We are determined to provide employment
and are determined that whatever challenges we face we are going to work to
give meaning to lives in our locality, not just being a country that sits down
there exporting crude , leaving our people jobless and hungry.
and are determined that whatever challenges we face we are going to work to
give meaning to lives in our locality, not just being a country that sits down
there exporting crude , leaving our people jobless and hungry.
“With the project in Tomaro Island, we are
trying to create value for our economy and any right-thinking Nigerian will
absolutely support it,” he said.
trying to create value for our economy and any right-thinking Nigerian will
absolutely support it,” he said.
