Fuel Scarcity Looms As IPMAN Threatens To Shut Down Filling Stations

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria
(IPMAN) has stated plans are underway by its members to shut down
all filling stations across the country.

IPMAN warned it might also cut down supplies from Tuesday should
the Federal Government and Inspector General of Police fail to
address alleged illegalities perpetrated by the Police Force.

National Public Relation Officer, (PRO) of IPMAN, Yakubu
Suleiman, said these on Sunday in a chat with reporters in Jos.

Some police officers last Friday were alleged to have invaded
IPMAN National Secretariat for some unstated reasons.

Suleiman described the invasion as an illegal clampdown over
alleged sponsorship by some impostors parading themselves as
executives of IPMAN.

He said aggrieved members and officials at State, zonal and
depot levels have met and resolved to shut down filling stations
over the incident.

“Whereas there is subsisting Supreme Court judgement of December
2018, that have since disposed off a suit No. SC15/2015, and
ordered that Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, is our President and Alhaji
Danladi Garba Pasali, as National secretary.

“The continued violation of this judgement, even by the police
is causing more harm to the downstream sector of the petroleum
industry, which if such is not halted will lead to impunity and
anarchy,” he said.

He frowned at the police siege on their Secretariat, adding
similar incident led to the closure of Suleja depot last week.

He claimed the Suleja incident would have truncated supplies to
Abuja and Northern States if not for the National Secretariat
intervention.

“It is true that members of IPMAN in many States across sections
of Nigeria, have met and others are meeting and communicating to us
that they will shut down, from Tuesday.

“The implications would be there will be a shortage or fuel
scarcity in the country,” he said.

The IPMAN PRO called on the Chief Justice of the Federation, the
Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC, the National
Assembly and Inspector General of Police to act in protection of
laid down rules of law.

“We are calling on all arms of government including the security
agencies to take the necessary action, towards halting impunity in
the downstream sector of the petroleum industry,” he said.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria
(IPMAN) has stated plans are underway by its members to shut down
all filling stations across the country.

IPMAN warned it might also cut down supplies from Tuesday should
the Federal Government and Inspector General of Police fail to
address alleged illegalities perpetrated by the Police Force.

National Public Relation Officer, (PRO) of IPMAN, Yakubu
Suleiman, said these on Sunday in a chat with reporters in Jos.

Some police officers last Friday were alleged to have invaded
IPMAN National Secretariat for some unstated reasons.

Suleiman described the invasion as an illegal clampdown over
alleged sponsorship by some impostors parading themselves as
executives of IPMAN.

He said aggrieved members and officials at State, zonal and
depot levels have met and resolved to shut down filling stations
over the incident.

“Whereas there is subsisting Supreme Court judgement of December
2018, that have since disposed off a suit No. SC15/2015, and
ordered that Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, is our President and Alhaji
Danladi Garba Pasali, as National secretary.

“The continued violation of this judgement, even by the police
is causing more harm to the downstream sector of the petroleum
industry, which if such is not halted will lead to impunity and
anarchy,” he said.

He frowned at the police siege on their Secretariat, adding
similar incident led to the closure of Suleja depot last week.

He claimed the Suleja incident would have truncated supplies to
Abuja and Northern States if not for the National Secretariat
intervention.

“It is true that members of IPMAN in many States across sections
of Nigeria, have met and others are meeting and communicating to us
that they will shut down, from Tuesday.

“The implications would be there will be a shortage or fuel
scarcity in the country,” he said.

The IPMAN PRO called on the Chief Justice of the Federation, the
Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC, the National
Assembly and Inspector General of Police to act in protection of
laid down rules of law.

“We are calling on all arms of government including the security
agencies to take the necessary action, towards halting impunity in
the downstream sector of the petroleum industry,” he said.