The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, has dissociated himself from media reports claiming he announced plans for a second private refinery in the state following talks with new investors.
In a statement issued to clarify the situation, Dr. Olumide expressed concern over the false attribution, stating categorically that he did not make such comments, nor did he grant any interview or issue a statement regarding refinery development or petroleum sector investments.
The Commissioner described the report as inaccurate, misleading, and unprofessional, urging the public to disregard it.
Dr. Olumide took the opportunity to educate the public on the statutory functions of his Ministry to prevent future ambiguity.
He explained that the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development is strictly mandated to handle land-use planning and control.
“The statutory mandate of the Ministry… involved land-use planning and control, including zoning regulations, layout approvals, and the processing of physical planning and development permits for projects, in line with approved master plans and extant planning laws,” he stated.
He emphasized that while major infrastructure projects like refineries eventually require planning approval and zoning compliance from his Ministry, the actual decisions regarding investment promotion, project initiation, and sector-specific policies fall outside his scope of responsibility.
The Commissioner called on media organizations to exercise due diligence and uphold the ethics of accuracy and proper verification when reporting on government activities.
He reiterated that all official communications from the Ministry would continue to be released through recognized and authorized channels.