Fuel scarcity: IPMAN urges members not to strike
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Thursday said its members would not embark on a nationwide strike, as had been speculated.
Mr. Mike Osatuyi, IPMAN's NationalOperations Controller, gave the assurance in an interview with the newsmen in Lagos.
Osatuyi said it became necessary to debunk the insinuation that LPMAN members planned to shut down their stations.
According to him, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) is committedto selling directly to IPMAN members at the official rate of ex-depot price.
He said the backlog of IPMAN members' tickets, which was over 2,000 at present, was being cleared.
Osatuyi said, "Nigerians should not engage in any panic buying as we are entering the Christmas period."
"Our wide network nationwide makes us the perfect outlets to ensure sustained distribution of petroleum products across the country."
Supreme reports that on Dec. 10, the Ogun State chapter of IPMAN threatened to shut down all its outlets across the state over an ultimatum issued to marketers by the Department of State Security (DSS).
The DSS had directed all petrol stations nationwide to sell fuel at the regulated price and threatened to shut down defaulting stations.
The correspondent who also monitored the fuel situation in Lagos reports that queues are gradually easing off at some filling stations.
Only the major oil marketers are selling gasoline at a regulated price between N169 and N170 per liter, while stations belonging to independent marketers still sell between N220 and N260.
Supreme also observed that selling of petrol on highways, "black market" is gradually coming to an end.
Supreme also reports that massive loading of petroleum products is going on at Apapa and dockyard depots by marketers for various states.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Ahmed Farouk, also assured Nigerians of sufficient petroleum products during the holiday season.
