IPMAN Raises Alarm Over Imminent Fuel Scarcity in C’ River

Chaotic scene at a petrol station during scarcity

by crossriverwatch admin

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has said that unless stringent measures are put in place, there will soon be scarcity of fuel in Cross River State and its environs.

Chairman of the Association in Calabar, Mr. Michael Udofia, stated this when he led his members to inform the state commissioner for information of the possible fuel crisis in the state.

The Chairman warned that the union will resort to total strike that will close down all IPMAN Filling Stations from business in the State if this situation where there seems to be a calculated plan to render Calabar NNPC Depot redundant to the benefit of private depot owners in the State does not change.

Mr. Michael Udofia said the that diesel and kerosene have not been received in the NNPC Calabar Depot for over ten years while petrol comes only once in a while.

He stressed that what they received from the NNPC Depot in Calabar is grossly inadequate for the over 89% of Filling Stations that IPMAN control in the State.

He said that products meant for the State are channelled to private depot owners who sell between N100.00 to N110.00 per litre to second tier buyers.

Mr. Udofia stated that the unfortunate situation is hugely responsible for the high prices of petroleum products in the State.

In his response, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Akin Ricketts called on the managements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Limited (PPMC) to do everything within the purview of their offices to ensure that Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene are sent to the Calabar Depot of NNPC for the benefit of citizens of the catchment area.

The Commissioner assured IPMAN members of the readiness of his Ministry to partner the Association in the overall interest of the State, pointing out that their request would be channeled to the appropriate government quarters. He assured that the State Government shall not fold its arms and allow her citizens to suffer unjustly.

Mr. Akin appealed to the Group Managing Director of NNPC as well as the Managing Director of the PPMC to urgently intervene and unravel any bottleneck that may have been responsible for the over a decade long non-supply of these petroleum products to the Calabar Depot, which he pointed out serves Akwa Ibom and two other States in the North East Zone of the country.