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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has denied reports that marketers will cease operations once the government implements the N195 per litre pump price.
IPMAN’s National Operations Controller, Mr Mike Osatuyi, clarified this in a statement released on Tuesday, in Lagos.
Osatuyi said the rumour that marketers planned to close their doors should be ignored.
Earlier, IPMAN Publicity Officer, Ibadan Depot, Alhaji Mojeed Adesope, had called for the closure of all IPMAN filling stations on February 3 due to government’s directive that petrol pump prices should not exceed N195 per litre.
Adesope said dealers, particularly independent marketers, described the development as tough due to the high ex-depot price of the commodity.
Osatuyi said it became necessary to debunk the insinuation that IPMAN members planned to shut down their stations.
According to him, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) is preparing the logistics to start supplying petrol to IPMAN members directly.
He advised members to open up their stations and start selling to the public nationwide.
He said IPMAN was a responsible association that would not undermine national security, just as petrol is a national security product.
“Apart from IPMAN members loading at DAPPMAN depots in Abule-Ado, Ijegun, Lagos, DAPPMAN has also agreed to sell petrol at N172 per litre to IPMAN members, as part of the Federal Government and DAPMAN efforts in ensuring Nigerians enjoy the subsidy regime,” he said.
He also stated that lPMAN would begin massive loading at NIPCO and MRS depots in the South West and North West very soon.
Osatuyi praised the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) for canceling N3 union charges on petrol in loading depots over the last two days.
However, he urged the government to advise NUPENG/PTD to reduce transportation costs to various parts of the country where transport owners can make a reasonable profit.
He added that the benefits of subsidy would be shared by the general public, allowing IPMAN members to sell at reasonable and near-approved prices across the country.
According to him, Adesope had no mandate to speak on behalf of the national body of IPMAN.
He appealed to the media to always cross-check any information from IPMAN nationals before going to press.
Osatuyi said members would begin to get supplies directly from NNPCL.
He said the independent marketers, being a critical complement to the major marketers in breaking the festering scarcity, got the assurance of direct supply of petrol from the NNPCL.
“The moves came on the heels of a critical meeting between NNPCL, MOMAN, IPMAN, Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Department of State Services (DSS) amongst others,” said Osatuyi. (NAN)
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