Oscarline Onwuemenyi
21 November 2016, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has assured that it would ensure steady supply of petroleum products to Nigerians during the yuletide.
IPMAN National President, Mr. Chinedu Okoronkwo, who gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the executive meeting of the association in Aba, Abia State, said the group was prepared to deploy all available resources to ensure that Nigerians enjoy a smooth yuletide season devoid of fuel scarcity.
He also remarked on the return of peace after several months of rancour caused by a leadership dispute within the association.
According to Okoronkwo, “We have chosen the path of peace; the path of progress to ensure that members of our association here in Aba are not shortchanged.”
He said the association, under the leadership of Chief Christian Ahukanna in Aba, had ensured that pipelines were not vandalised and marketers enjoyed supply from the Aba depot.
Okoronkwo said, “With time, people will begin to see what we have achieved. Our duty is to ensure that there is a level playing field where everyone will be able to access the products without any problems.”
The IPMAN boss, however, lamented the poor state of roads across the country, which had become a challenge to independent operators in making products available to Nigerians and expressed the hope that government would pay attention to them.
Okoronkwo said if the priority roads would be given attention, it would help easy access of products.
On his own part, the newly-elected IPMAN Eastern Zonal Chairman, Udo Alozie, said the association was committed to ensuring that Nigerians got constant supply of petroleum products.
Alozie said that only the Aba depot was functioning in the zone as others had been destroyed by pipeline vandals.
He, however, promised to collaborate with NNPC, Police, communities, youth organisations, village heads and royal fathers to protect the pipeline for optimal performance.
The zonal chairman said NNPC had started work on some of the pipelines, adding that Enugu depot would soon receive products.
Alozie expressed the hope that there would be no petroleum product scarcity during the festive season, following the government’s efforts to support product import by marketers.
