In a bid to resolve the petrol scarcity and arbitrary increases in pump price, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) have reached an agreement.
Gatekeepers News reports that IPMAN’s National Operations Controller, Mike Osatuyi confirmed the development, saying members of the association will begin to get supply directly from the NNPC.
He added that going forward, the independent marketers, in breaking the festering scarcity, have received assurance of direct supply of petrol from the NNPC.
The moves came on the heels of a critical meeting between NNPC, Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), IPMAN, Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Department of State Services (DSS) amongst others.
The National Operations Controller said the NNPC has agreed to sell petrol directly to IPMAN members at the regulated official price, rather than routing products through third parties, who had been severally fingered as being behind inflated wholesale supply prices.
Osatuyi said, the direct sale of products to independent marketers “will bring down the price of the product”, noting that direct sale of products to independent marketers will lead to immediate reversal of retail prices to regulated retail price.
He said: “I can tell you that the NNPC has agreed to be giving IPMAN petrol directly and not through a third party.
“The federal government of Nigeria and the Inspector General of Police should call the federal task force on petroleum products to order as their recent actions is geared towards intimidation and exploitation.
“IPMAN will work with them in a peaceful and friendly atmosphere to fish out fraudulent members among IPMAN members that can be proven but not exploitative agenda.”
The IPMAN, on Sunday, debunked insinuations that marketers are getting set to shut down operations beginning from Monday once the government starts the enforcement of N195/litre pump price.
Osatuyi said it became necessary to debunk the insinuation that IPMAN members planned to shut down their stations.
He advised members to open up there stations and start selling to the public nationwide.
Osatuyi said IPMAN is a responsible association that will not involve in undermining the national security as petrol is a national security product.
According to him, “Apart from IPMAN members loading at DAPPMAN depots in Abule-Ado, ijegun axis of Lagos has 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 added that lPMAN will also load in NIPCO and MRS depots massively for South West and North West part of the country in few days time.
Osatuyi said the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) must be applauded for cancelling the N3 union charges on petrol in the last two days at depots, adding that, however, government should advise NUPENG/ PTD to bring down the transportation cost to various parts of the country where a reasonable profit will be made by the transport owners and the benefits of subsidy equally be enjoyed by the public so as to enable IPMAN members to sell at reasonable and near approved prices nationwide.
