The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has distanced itself from the planned strike by other oil marketers, saying that it would not be party to the “traditional end-of-year petroleum scarcity” in the country.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the marketers had given the Federal Government a 7-day ultimatum, threatening to shut down depots across the country over non-settlement of N800 billion from Petroleum Equalisation Fund, PEF.
The marketers include Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, DAPPMA and the Independent Petroleum Products Importers, IPPIS.
However, the IPMAN, through its Kano State chairman, Bashir Dan-Mallam, on Tuesday said it would not join any action that is capable of inflicting hardship on Nigerians.
According to Mr Dan-mallam, the Federal Government also owes IPMAN about N150 billion PEF, but the association was not threatening any action against the government.
Mr Dan-mallam who noted that the debt was inherited from previous administrations, urged the aggrieved oil marketers should rather engage the Federal Government in dialogue in order to resolve their differences amicably.
He, therefore, called on the general public not to panic over the marketers’ threat as all the deports across the country are filled with the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petroleum
“All deports in Kano, Minna, Warri and other places across the country are filled with petroleum that is enough for the consumption of the people throughout this festive period and even beyond.
“So, let me use this opportunity to call on the general public that they should not panic about petroleum scarcity as we, the IPMAN, will not join the strike.
“We are not party to any action capable of inflicting hardship on the public. We have enough petroleum in our deports. So there is no course for alarm,” he assured.
While stressing that the era of traditional end-of-year petroleum scarcity is over in the country, Mr Dan-Mallam called on the Federal Government to endeavour to settle the debt for the interest of the masses.
He commended the Managing Director, PPMC /NNPC, Umar Ajiya for his effort to decimate petroleum scarcity by supplying enough product to all the deports across the country.
