Fakoyejo Olalekan
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) branch in Borno State has shelved the planned shutdown of operation in protest of the N195 per litre fuel price.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) met on January 31 to negotiate on the fuel pump price.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelOthers in the meeting include members of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
The government approved a fixed pump price of N195 per litre, a move that didn’t seat well with the independent oil marketers, as there have been complaints that the private depots the NNPC offload fuel sells the product to IPMAN members above the mandated NNPC price.
IPMAN Chairman, Maiduguri Depot, Mohammed Kuluwu, had directed members in Borno to suspend operation. This led to reports of possible price hikes across the country, with the expectation that members in other states could join.
However, Kuluwu has informed members to resume operation, “Having met with the concerned authority, all filling stations should open with immediate effect and continue selling while the association continues with further consultation and accordingly keep you informed.”
He retracted the statement after the National Chairman, Debo Ahmed, cautioned against the move, stating that the government and IPMAN members are discussing the issues that compelled the Borno branch to resort to shutdown.
Although, prior to the recent shutdown by IPMAN Borno, Ahmed had also advised members to lockdown their businesses if they are unable to sell fuel at N195 per litre.
Ahmed said: “The information is in order, because the depots that the NNPC gives products to are selling at a higher price, and IPMAN members will not like to leave their stations idle. And to avoid sanctions, it is better to close your station.
“So, what is going to happen in essence is that marketers have to buy products using the NNPCL loading tickets, and if they don’t have the tickets, all they have to do is to close down their stations. You have to buy from the NNPCL in order to sell at the government-regulated price.”
