Osun State Government under watch of Governor Ademola Adeleke has been accused of selling the Mega Station of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), owned by the state government, to a family member.
According to reports trending on social media, Governor Adeleke had concluded plans to sell the facility to the said family member at a sum of N100 million, instructing the Osun State Investment Company Limited (OSICOL), who manages the facility to terminate the agreement it has with NNPCL on the property.
The medium reports that the Mega retail station, with 26 nozzles and other state of the art facilities said to be worth over N3 billion in commercial value, was built and commissioned by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and handed over to NNPCL on July 17, 2018, on a lease agreement.
A letter dated 16th November, 2023 jointly signed by Owolawi, G.A and Taofik Alimi, Head of Venture Capital and Special Projects and Managing Director of Osun State Investment Company Limited respectively tweeted by a X user, @chiefagbabiaka, said despite the fact that the working relationship since the commencement of the partnership had been cordial and rewarding, OSICOL, after what it termed a business reappraisal, had to discontinue the leasing arrangement.
The letter addressed to the Managing Director, NNPCL Retail, Abuja, sighted by OSUN DEFENDER 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.
Govt Admits Plans To Terminate Lease Agreement, Debunks Sale To Governor’s Family Member
Reacting, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the purported sale of the property is fake news.
While admitting that the government is truly planning to terminate the lease agreement, Alimi said the letter does not suggest conversion of the property for private use, but solely a review of business interest.
The state government also accused agents of the former governor of the state, Adegboyega Oyetola, as being behind what it described as ‘fake news.’
Alimi in the statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER 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.
