Adejoke Adebiyi
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has unequivocally distanced itself from what it has labeled as misleading comments made by Tafida Suleiman, regarding preparations for a potential downtool by oil marketers.
IPMAN’s President, Debo Ahmed, addressed journalists over the weekend in Abuja, stating that the association has no intentions whatsoever to halt operations.
According to Ahmed, It would only further burden Nigerians with hardships and hinder President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to reform the petroleum industry.
Speaking on behalf of IPMAN president, the Secretary, John Kekeocha, also refuted allegations of extortion leveled against the Petroleum Tankers Division (PTD) of the National Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Kekeocha insisted that no tanker driver is coerced into parting with sums of N150,000 or N200,000 before or after loading.
The IPMAN scribe further described Suleiman’s group as “a gathering of economic saboteurs who he said aim at undermining the efforts of President Tinubu in addressing the issues of petroleum scarcity and bloated subsidy payments, which necessitated their removal.”
He advised members to continue their business activities and ensure the availability of petroleum products to effectively support the economy.
Highlighting IPMAN’s adherence to the 1997 constitution, as affirmed by the Supreme Court, Kekeocha emphasized that the association should not be drawn into crises fueled by self-centered interests and detrimental politics.
“IPMAN is an association that runs its affairs in line with the 1997 constitution as affirmed by the Supreme Court. People should not drag the association into crisis with their egocentric interest and bad politics.
“The National exco is saddled with the responsibility of interfacing with other stakeholders. The allegation of planning to go on strike over allegation of extortion does not hold water as no such money is paid to anyone.
“Security agencies should be alert to arrest and prosecute those who want themselves to be used to frustrate the efforts of this administration.
“We are in co-operation with PTD of NUPENG and other sister associations.
“We implore the FG to issue an importation license to IPMAN to enable us to compete with other actors in a deregulated regime.”
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