Relocating Lagos fuel tank farm

The government’s directive is in response to increased level of threat that the tanks pose to the safety of lives, property and the environment in their present location. The tank farm is adjacent to the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports network in Lagos, which is the nation’s primary hub in the maritime industry.  Several […]

The government’s directive is in response to increased level of threat that the tanks pose to the safety of lives, property and the environment in their present location. The tank farm is adjacent to the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports network in Lagos, which is the nation’s primary hub in the maritime industry.  Several inspectors and observers including visitation teams from the National Assembly have also determined poor compliance of the operators with extant environmental safety standards.
Many of the tanks are old and in dilapidated state, and there have been several fire incidents that caused huge losses in property and lives.  Cases of such fire outbreaks include the recent one last February involving the facilities of an oil company.   In the aftermath of each of the fire incidents, hardly was there effective response by fire fighting units of the owners of the tanks.  
Due to apparent poor maintenance regime in the operation of the tanks, the danger of a major fire incident shutting down the adjacent maritime infrastructure and associated operations has been an ever-present fear. The impact of such a grave development on the nation’s economy can only be guessed at.
 Besides, leakages of petroleum products stored in the tanks seep into the adjoining marine surroundings and pollute nearby surface wells and boreholes which are the primary sources of drinking water for the host communities in which millions of people reside. The tanks are also sources of frequent traffic bottlenecks on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, caused by fuel tanker trucks that come there to load petroleum products. The problem this brings about is cited for the diversion of Nigeria-bound maritime cargo to neighbouring ports and associated loss of revenue to the country.
However, the relocation of the Lagos fuel tanks is a matter that will require a collaborative effort between the federal and Lagos State governments, as well as the private sector stakeholders, in this case the tank farm owners and related trade groups. This is due to factors such as the causative circumstances for their location there in the first place, the interests involved and the cost of the relocation exercise.
The fuel storage tanks were initially erected on their present location and in a limited number to service routine port operations, and at a time when the surrounding areas were sparsely populated. All that was to change over time as the nation’s dependence on importation of petroleum products gave rise to the development of landing facilities for such imports. In scant regard for urban development expedients, the present location being the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports zone was chosen, although they were better locations that were available at the time.
It is not inconceivable that any plan to relocate the tanks would not be without resistance from the owners and operators because of the likely the financial implications to them. There should not be a problem in convincing them, even if the authorities have to offer them incentives to enable a speedy and hitch-free relocation.