The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IPMAN

  • IPMAN sets up committee to check adulteration among members

    National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria ( IPMAN ), Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, says they will constitute a committee to check pipeline vadalization and adulteration of petroleum products among members of the association.

    Speaking while inaugurating the caretaker committee of IPMAN, Calabar depot, led by Elder Edet Umana, Okoronwko said the country was riddled with the activities of such vandals and there was urgent need to check the problem.

    “The business of oil and gas, which is about 80 per cent of downstream sector, is controlled by our members and any infraction in that chain always affects us adversely. As a responsible organization, we must work with government at all levels to ensure that petroleum products are genuine and the pipelines for which the products are conveyed are also in order, because every disruption would affect the economy. We are employers of labour. Over 20 million workers are working for us if you check the chain, pump attendants, depot managers, tanker drivers and so on. So we must as a responsible organization protect this business. The committee would be at all depots, we would have it at national level, zonal level and chapter levels.

    “We are working with the police, DSS, Civil Defence, and even the army. When we catch you as our member in order for you not to contaminate us, we would say this one is not doing very well and we would prove it. We have investigated and seen this problems and the association cannot tolerate those who indulge in vices inimical to the growth of this country,” he said.

    Okoronwko said President Muhammdu Buhari was trying his best for the country, but some people are still trying to thwart his efforts to move the country forward.

    “Is he (Buhari) is he the one cutting pipelines and stealing products? No. We must as an association help the country, by helping the members work in tandem with agreement with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),” he said.

    He congratulated newly inaugurated caretaker executive committee of Calabar depot, saying they would manage the affairs of the association pending when they would be election for new executives.

    He charged them to help in the fight against vandalization and adulteration and also make sure that petroleum products flow without any problems.

    The new caretaker committee, Elder Edet Umana, urged all marketers to work in unity.

    Umana said he would call everyone together and also ensure all members get products as at when due without fear or favour.

    The 16-man caretaker committee led by Umana has Ekanem Effiong as Vice Chairman and Mrs Adana Onuegbu as Secretary.

  • IPMAN, PEF bicker over payment

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) yesterday lamented that Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) has slowed down the pace of settling its debts for bridging petroleum products.

    But PEF insisted that it is still reaching its payment threshold and no law makes weekly payment compulsory.

    Its National Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi noted that PEF has slowed down the pace of payment, which is seriously affecting the marketers.

    PEF, according to him, used to pay marketers weekly but has now relaxed the pace to monthly. Besides, he noted that instead of making complete payment, the fund now disburses partly payments to the marketers.

    He said the excuse is that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is not remitting the fund to PEF.

     

  • IPMAN condemns boycott call

    The national executive, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has condemned efforts aimed at discouraging stakeholders from attending the forthcoming annual general meeting (AGM) of NIPCO.

    Its Secretary-General, Mr. Danladi Pasali, in a communiqué issued after the National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, debunked the rumour and asked its members and other stakeholders in NIPCO to attend the firm’s AGM.

    The debunked report, which was attributed to IPMAN, had advised shareholders and other stakeholders in NIPCO not to attend the AGM for security reasons. It added that an internal problem centred on calls for removal of Chief Bestman Anekwe as the chairman of NIPCO is in court and had been reported to all the security agencies.

    Pasali said IPMAN was aware that the chairman of NIPCO Plc, Chief Anekwe, has complied with the necessary provision of law.

    He said IPMAN under the leadership of Chief Chinedu Okoronkwo respects the views of members of IPMAN on freedom of speech, adding that the NEC of IPMAN will not tolerate anybody to hide under the Association’s name to commit unlawful action to the detriment of IPMAN’s name.

  • Buhari checkmated corruption in petroleum sector -IPMAN

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) at the weekend said President Muhammadu Buhari has checkmated the corruption in the petroleum sector.

    Its national secretary, Alhaji Danladi Pasali, who is also the National Coordinator, Buhari Campaign Organisation, spoke while receiving members of the National Youth Council in his Abuja office.

    He called for the re-election of Buhari, saying under his watch, the nation has stopped spending 60 per cent of its budget on corruption -ridden fuel subsidy otherwise known as Petroleum Support Fund (PSF).

    He noted with the intervention of the current administration, there is glut of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) market, which the retail outlets now beg motorists to buy.

    His words: “It is clear now that petrol stations beg people to come in and buy products. Go round now, all the petrol stations have products and they are calling people to come and buy.

    “It is better because there are no more queues. There is no more spending 60 percent of our budget to pay for subsidy.

    “We don’t experience this. So, the corruption aspect in the system has been checkmated.”

     

  • IPMAN seeks increased fuel supply

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to intensify the distribution of petroleum products to Western depots to address fuel shortage in the hinterlands.

    Its Chairman, Western Zone, Alhaji Debo Ahmed, made the appeal in Lagos., saying increased fuel supply to the zone becomes necessary due to IPMAN members’ inability to import petrol.

    He, however, commended the NNPC for improving supply but noted that the distribution was still not enough for the zone. According to him, some depots within the western zone have begun to receive massive supply of petroleum products from the NNPC, which independent marketers enjoy, loading at ease to the hinterlands.

    He said: “The supply of petrol to the depots has improved in the western zone, but we appeal to the NNPC to maintain the tempo. All depots within the western zone now sell petroleum products at government-regulated prices unlike before when petrol was sold above ex-depot prices.

    “We, the marketers, under the western zone, commend the management of NNPC for addressing the petroleum distribution challenges to depots in the zone. Government has set the pace for steady supply of petroleum products across the country.”

    Ahmed praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his concern in easing fuel distribution and supply to every part of the country, adding that the concern had informed the commitment of the NNPC’s management in upgrading storage facilities across Nigeria and ensuring the availability of products.

  • How to end fuel scarcity – IPMAN

    How to end fuel scarcity – IPMAN

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has recommended massive importation and deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry to end the current fuel scarcity in the country.

    The association also advised the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to disengage itself from the business of retailing.

    The Western Zonal Chairman of IPMAN, Debo Ahmed, told journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, that “NNPC should leave retailing to marketers and engage in proper regulation.

    Ahmed said the current fuel scarcity had led to job losses and closing of shops by many IPMAN members.

    He listed some of the reasons why the scarcity would persist, noting that NNPC has no capacity to meet the demand of the country’s petroleum requirements as sole importer, distributor, and retailer.

    He said: “That is a very dangerous monopoly destroying the economy of the country. The little quantity it imports is not distributed justifiably. NNPC mega stations with 3.5 percent market share are allocated 50 percent of available products in all the functioning depots in the country.

    “IPMAN with 80 percent of the market share is allocated 30 percent of the share of total available products.

    “Major marketers with 1.6 percent market share receive 20 percent of available products as allocation. With this distribution pattern NNPC is strangulating IPMAN members because a lot of marketers have had the gates of their stations closed up.

    “Volumes of most of the imported PMS are given to the depot owners under the PFI system to sell to the independent marketers at a controlled price of N133.28 per liter but the private depot owners will sell at N162 above the regulated price.

    “The government is not doing enough about those depot owners (DAPPMA) who are flagrantly abusing the system only for Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to descend on independent marketers by closing their stations.

    “Fuel scarcity can only be abated if NNPC can import massively and distribute justifiably with IPMAN, major marketers and NNPC having their usual allocations of 40 percent, 30 percent and 30 percent respectively.”

     

  • Why fuel crisis lingers, by IPMAN

    Why fuel crisis lingers, by IPMAN

    The Federal Government’s inability to improve fuel supply is caused by  dysfunctional refineries, failure to pay marketers their over N800 billion subsidy debts and poor maintenance of the majority of the 22 depots owned by the  Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), The Nation has learnt.

    Other reasons are the cost of fuel import and marketers’ inability to access foreign exchange (forex).

    It was gathered that many of the 22- state owned depots were not working  because NNPC lacked the capacity to meet fuel requirement.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that NNPC is rationing fuel due to high cost of importation. During a visit to the NNPC Satellite depot in Ejigbo, a suburb of Lagos, it was discovered that the corporation supplies the depot between five and 10 million litres of fuel  weekly, instead of 21 million litres.

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Southwest Chairman,  Alhaji Debo Ahmed, said many of the depots were not working optimally.

    In a telephone interview, he said Aba, Port Harcourt, Owerri,  Ibadan and Mosimi depots were functioning at low capacity.

    He said the failure of the NNPC to distribute fuel evenly nationwide was also a cause of the problem.

    Ahmed said: “Often times, NNPC supplies fuel to private depots at N156 per litre instead of N133 per litre, a development which made some marketers to sell fuel at higher rate than the official pump price. This, among others, contributes to the pocket of crisis, which the downstream sub-sector of the oil and gas industry is facing.’’

    Also, the IPMAN’ Chairman, Ejigbo Sattelite Depot, Mr Alanamu Balogun, said: “Fuel scarcity persists despite the establishment of two depots in Apapa, Lagos, last week, by private investors.”

    He said the inclusion of Folawiyo and Emadel depots to the depots in the country is yet to improve fuel supply. He said Ejigbo depot was battling storage problem as its five bigger storage tanks are not working well, adding that the development made the depot to use the smaller tanks for operation.

  • Why fuel crisis lingers, by IPMAN

    Why fuel crisis lingers, by IPMAN

    The Federal Government’s inability to improve fuel supply is caused by  the dysfunctional refineries, failure to pay marketers their over N800 billion subsidy debts and poor maintenance of the majority of the 22 depots owned by the  Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), The Nation has learnt.

    Other reasons were the cost of fuel import and marketers’ inability to access foreign exchange (forex).

    It was gathered that many of the 22- state owned depots were not working  because NNPC lacks the capacity meet national fuel requirement.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that NNPC is rationing fuel due to high cost of importation. During a visit to the NNPC Satellite depot in Ejigbo, a suburb of Lagos, it was discovered that the corporation supplies the depot between five and 10 million litres of fuel  weekly, instead of 21 million litres.

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Southwest Chairman,  Alhaji Debo Ahmed, said many of the depots were not working optimally.

    In a telephone interview, he said Aba, Port Harcourt, Owerri,  Ibadan and Mosimi depots were functioning at low capacity.

    He said the failure of the NNPC to distribute fuel evenly nationwide is also a cause of the problem.

    Ahmed said: “Often times, NNPC supplies fuel to private depots at N156 per litre instead of N133 per litre a development, which made some marketers sell fuel at higher rate than the official pump price. This, among others, contributes to the pocket of crisis, which the downstream sub-sector of the oil and gas industry is facing.’’

    Also, the IPMAN’ Chairman, Ejigbo Sattelite Depot, Mr Alanamu Balogun, said: “Fuel scarcity persists despite the establishment of two depots in Apapa, Lagos, last week, by private investors.”

    He said the inclusion of Folawiyo and Emadel depots to the depots in the country is yet to improve fuel supply. He said Ejigbo depot was battling storage problem as its five bigger storage tanks are not working well, adding that the development made the depot to use the smaller tanks for operation.

     

  • Why fuel crisis lingers, by IPMAN

    The Federal Government’s inability to improve fuel supply is caused by  the dysfunctional state of the refineries, failure to pay marketers their over N800 billion subsidy debts and poor maintenance of the majority of the 22 depots owned by the  Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), The Nation has learnt.

    Other reasons were the cost of fuel import and marketers’ inability to access foreign exchange (forex).

    It was gathered that many of the 22- state owned depots were not working  because NNPC lacks the capacity meet national fuel requirement.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that NNPC is rationing fuel due to high cost of importation. During a visit to the NNPC Satellite depot in Ejigbo, a suburb of Lagos, it was discovered that the corporation supplies the depot between five and 10 million litres of fuel  weekly, instead of 21 million litres.

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Southwest Chairman,  Alhaji Debo Ahmed, said many of the depots were not working optimally.

    In a telephone interview, he said Aba, Port Harcourt, Owerri,  Ibadan and Mosimi depots were functioning at low capacity.

    He said the failure of the NNPC to distribute fuel evenly nationwide is also a cause of the problem.

    Ahmed said: “Often times, NNPC supplies fuel to private depots at N156 per litre instead of N133 per litre a development, which made some marketers sell fuel at higher rate than the official pump price. This, among others, contributes to the pocket of crisis, which the downstream sub-sector of the oil and gas industry is facing.’’

    Also, the IPMAN’ Chairman, Ejigbo Sattelite Depot, Mr Alanamu Balogun, said: “Fuel scarcity persists despite the establishment of two depots in Apapa, Lagos, last week, by private investors.”

    He said the inclusion of Folawiyo and Emadel depots to the depots in the country is yet to improve fuel supply. He said Ejigbo depot was battling storage problem as its five bigger storage tanks are not working well, adding that the development made the depot to use the smaller tanks for operation.

    “NNPC is yet to fix the tanks despite the fact the management of the depot has called its attention to it.  In a week, we receive 10 million litres of fuel. In the past three weeks, the depot has been loading fuel on Saturdays, which we supply to marketers within three days – that is Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.“

     

     

     

  • IPMAN orders members to stop sale of fuel in Ondo

    IPMAN orders members to stop sale of fuel in Ondo

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Ondo State yesterday ordered the closure of filling stations across the state.

    This followed the reported arrest of its members.

    It was learnt that there was a confrontation between fuel dealers and the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Special Duties, Doyin Odebowale, in Akure, the state capital.

    The State IPMAN Chairman Adejimi Adedapo, who gave the directive, said the action of the SSA and his team was a sabotage and arbitrary punishment of marketers and the public.

    He said the association recently ensured that the residents got Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or petrol, at all cost, despite the challenges they encountered in getting the product.

    The IPMAN chairman said the PMS was N165 per litre from the depots, with other factors, like haulage, overhead cost and others not included.

    One of the leaders of the association, who was arrested, Bayo Olowookere said the action of the governor’s aide was unwarranted.

    According to him, his wife and some workers of his filling station were harassed before he was ordered for arrest alongside his wife.

    A former IPMAN Chairman, who spoke in confidence, said majority of the filling stations were disrupted and their fuel dispensed indiscriminately.

    He said members of the association in the state could not continue to bear the hardship, adding that attempts to meet with the state government on the matter were rebuffed.

    Olowookere urged union members to stop selling fuel to customers in the 18 local government areas of the state.

    There had been an outrage from the public over the hike in fuel price between N200 and N220 in the state without the intervention of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) officials.

    The development prompted the recent action of the state government in the interest of the residents.