The Osun State Government, under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke, is facing allegations of selling the Mega Station of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), owned by the state, to a family member.
Reports circulating on social media claim that Governor Adeleke has finalized plans to sell the facility to a family member for N100 million. The Osun State Investment Company Limited (OSICOL), responsible for managing the facility, has allegedly been instructed to terminate the existing agreement with NNPCL on the property.
The Mega retail station, equipped with 26 nozzles and valued at over N3 billion, was originally constructed and commissioned by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. It was handed over to NNPCL on July 17, 2018, through a lease agreement.
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A letter dated November 16, 2023, jointly signed by Owolawi G.A and Taofik Alimi, Head of Venture Capital and Special Projects, and Managing Director of OSICOL, respectively, was shared by an X user @chiefagbabiaka.
The letter states that, despite a positive working relationship, OSICOL decided to discontinue the leasing arrangement after a business reappraisal.
The letter addressed to the Managing Director, NNPCL Retail, Abuja reads:
“Kindly refer to the above subsisting agreement jointly executed by our two organizations and dated 17/07/18 in respect of our Mega filling station along Osogbo-Gbongan Road, opposite CBN, Osogbo, Osun state.
“We are happy to confirm our working relationship since the commencement of the partnership has been a cordial one.
“However, the above notwithstanding, we have reappraised our business interest and strategy in respect of the station and have revised our policy on the subject for a more rewarding outcome. hence wish to terminate the agreement in line with the provisions therein.
“In the light of the aforementioned, we hereby give you the mandatory (60) calendar days notice required for the termination and look forward to your cooperation on the matter. Thanks for your understanding,” the letter said.
In response, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, dismissed the allegations as fake news. While acknowledging the government’s plan to terminate the lease agreement, Alimi clarified that it does not imply the conversion of the property for private use but signifies a review of business interests.
The state government further accused agents of the former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, of spreading what they referred to as ‘fake news.’
Alimi in the statement made available to newsmen said,
“Our attention has been drawn to a fake news published by a platform known for its consistent spreading of false news which is increasingly bringing pressure for the invocation of the cyber crime act.
“We strongly state that the state government is not converting any state property including the NNPC mega station for private use as headlined in the false publication. Even the published letter from the state investment company never mentions anything like conversion to private use but emphasizes the need for review of the state business interest.
“Where the peddlers of fake news got her falsification from is what will be determined when the cybercrime act is invoked.
“We assure the public that the state government is committed to protection of public properties and profitable management of state investment. This administration is not like the paymaster of the purveyor of fake news who carted away government vehicles and looted government quarters after their defeat in July 2022,” the government stressed.
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