The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IPMAN

  • IPMAN crisis worsens as suspected thugs attack police station

    The leadership crisis rocking the Warri branch of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) worsened on Tuesday, as an attempt was made on the life of a leader of one of the groups.

    People suspected to be thugs and youths from Ekpan community in Uvwie Local Government Delta State had stormed the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) area office in Ekpan and tried to abduct Harry Okenini, a vice chairmanship candidate in the botched election of the association.

    While resisting his abductors, he was said to have been beaten up and stabbed. He managed to attract the attention of military men in the vicinity, who rescued him.

    The Nation learnt that after Okenini was rescued and taken to Ekpan Police Station, his attackers regrouped and stormed the station with weapons and attempted to sack the place.

    “One of the boys from the community mobilised about 50 youths to block NNPC office. They actually went to attack independent marketers and during the fracas, they wanted to kidnap one of the independent marketers, Harry Okenini.

    “He was beaten up and stabbed and was almost kidnapped before security agents came to rescue him. Security operatives later trailed the leader of the attack to the community and arrested him. After arresting him, he was taken to Ekpan Police Station. Not long after, youths mobilised with arms and stormed the station to fight the police. However, with the aid of other security backup, the police overpowered the boys,” a source said.

    Contacted, Okenini alleged that his attack was masterminded by the former Chairman of IPMAN, Chief Benjamin Emoefe, also called Ben Jones.

    He alleged that he was attacked because he insisted that the sharing of products to member-companies should be handled by PPMC and not the former chairman.

    “We have an issue in IPMAN about our election, and the governor said everybody should go and maintain peace till a date will be fixed for the election and for that they wrote to PPMC that for now, till after the election they should not recognise any IPMAN.

    “But the former chairman, Chief Emoefe, went to the community and brought some boys to intimidate and attack us. He said he must be the one to control the sharing of products.

    “Based on that argument, the PPMC management invited both parties for a meeting and they said for now they won’t recognise any IPMAN. That they will do our loading programme by themselves till we resolve the matter. So when we went to the meeting at the area office. Emoefe sent community boys and thugs to attack me.

    “They came with guns and other weapons. It was a serious battle between me and them. Military officers and policemen, who were in the area office, intervened and chased the boys away. When I went to Ekpan Police Station to complain, they came their with arms and fought the police,” Okenini alleged.

    Efforts to get Emoefe to react to the allegation were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor responded to an SMS sent to him.

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka confirmed the incident.

    He said the attackers of the police station demanded that the suspect be released to them.

    Aniamaka said: “There was an attempt on the station. They were demanding that the suspect be released to them. Of course, you will not expect the

    police to do that. Reinforcement was called and the suspect was taken to the state CID, if only for the safety of the officers and the station itself.”

  • IPMAN urges FG to end scarcity, restore operations at Enugu depot

    IPMAN urges FG to end scarcity, restore operations at Enugu depot

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria ( IPMAN ) has decried the high cost of procurement of petroleum products by its members in the South-East.

    Chief Ikechukwu Nwankwo, Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Chapter, lamented the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Awka.

    NAN reports that the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol in Anambra and neighboring states had hovered between N230 and N250 per litre since mid-December 2017.

    Nwankwo said the hike in the pump price of petrol which had persisted in the South-East was because of the scarcity of the product.

    He said the inability of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporations (NNPC) to supply the product sufficiently to marketers had contributed to the high cost.

    The chairman also described the situation in South-East, especially those under the Enugu depot as peculiar, noting that the breakdown of the depot was the major cause of the scarcity in the zone.

    He said customers in the area were more vulnerable because marketers from the zone were not protected by the NNPC in other depots in terms of access to the petroleum products.

    “The problem of price hike in the South-East where we operate is because of scarcity.

    “The product is not available, if it was available, there will be competition and naturally nobody will sell above the normal price.

    “Enugu depot has been down for over a decade and all the states in the zone now rely on depots that are supposed to be serving others.

    “Marketers are supposed to be getting PMS at N133.28 kobo at the NNPC depot so that we can sell at government approved price of N145, but all the products were bought from private tank farms at between N195 and N200.

    “If the pipeline to Enugu depot is working and the depot is functional, you are sure of 20 trucks each to Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states which are the major affiliate states at NNPC rate.

    “Now that the Enugu depot is not working, the NNPC should protect customers in the zone by ensuring that marketers from here get at least half of what it should get from other depots.

    Nwankwo absolved members of the allegations of hoarding and diversion, saying it was unwise for a businessman to do so.

    He condemned the clampdown of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on its members when it was obvious that they were not getting products at government approved prices.

    Read also: Loading at Ibadan depot inadequate, says IPMAN

    He said the DPR should work with the NNPC to find out those that procured products at government price for effective monitoring.

    “It is not true that marketers are hoarding but anybody with proof should show it.

    “Why should we hoard it and for whom and how can a businessman invest over N8 million on a product and refuse to sell and make profit?

    “At the moment, we are not happy with what the DPR is doing because it is unjust to dispense our petrol which they did not sell to us at the normal price.

    “The DPR should go and get the manifest of marketers that they sold product to at normal price and monitor those people because if they continue with what they are doing, we are going to shut down.

    “Let the NNPC declare the marketers that they sold product to at government approved price to, this is only how you can get product at government approved price,’’ he said.

    IPMAN urged the Federal Government to do that would be possible to eliminate the current scarcity and restore statutory price, including expediting works at the Enugu Depot, Emene to put it back in operation in the interest of the public.

    NAN

  • IPMAN celebrates Okoronkwo’s victory at Appeal Court

    IPMAN celebrates Okoronkwo’s victory at Appeal Court

    Members of the Indepen-dent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN have expressed joy over the Appeal Court judgment in Abuja that declared Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo as the National President of the association.

    IPMAN’s national Secretary, Alhaji Danladi Pasali, stated this after the National Executive Meeting (NEC) of the Association in Abuja.

    Pasali said the judgment and restoration of Okonkwo as the as IPMAN president would address the issues of misconduct and mismanagement that have been rocking the Association.

    Pasali said Okoronkwo remains the substantive National President of IPMAN based on the Appeal Court judgment.

    He said the Court of Appeal, Abuja reaffirmed the High court judgment of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1479/2016 delivered on 28th day of May, 2014, which upheld the election of IPMAN National Executive committee of 10th May, 2014.

    According to him, the interest of all members of the association will be a top priority of the President. He said the judgment is a welcome development to IPMAN members nationwide and the oil and gas industry. “The judgment once again confirmed Okoronkwo as substantive National President of IPMAN,” he said.

    Pasali said IPMAN members nationwide welcomed the Appeal Court judgment as it will enable the Association maintain the serenity and orderliness members used to enjoy in the distribution and dispensing of petroleum products to Nigerians across the country.

    “Now that Okoronkwo is on IPMAN driver’s seat, members will get their allocation accordingly. The NEC had reached agreement with DAPPMA for better synergy in meeting product availability in the country since DAPPMA has better strength in storage.

    “IPMAN members own and control 80 per cent of fuel outlets in Nigeria and are better positioned to efficiently distribute and dispense fuel to Nigerians in urban and hinterland.

    Pasali said the Appeal Court Abuja judgment delivered on 7th December, 2017, confirmed the National Executive Committee members as Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, National President; Alhaji Abubakar Maigani Shettima, Vice President; Aihaji Danladi Pasali, National Secretary; Bola Adeleke, National Treasurer; Chief Leo Nkameme, National Organising Secretary; Alhaji Yakubu Ali Dimka, National Auditor; Chief J.D. Ubani (JP).

    National Financial Secretary;  Dr  Hammed Adekunle Fashil, Assistant National Secretary; Alhaji Umar Baba Kano, National Legal Adviser; Chief Ezekwesili Maduagwuna, Chief Whip; and Alhaji Yakubu Suleman, National PRO.

  • Former petroleum minister wants IPMAN licenses revoked

    Former petroleum minister wants IPMAN licenses revoked

    A former Minister of Petroleum, Alhaji Umaru Dembo, on Tuesday advocated for revocation of licences granted members of Independent Marketers’ Association of Nigeria ( IPMAN ) to end fuel scarcity in the country.

    He also called for the re-introduction of major marketers to take charge of all fuel distribution and supply to motorists across the country.

    Dembo, who served as a petroleum minister during the reign of late Gen. Sani Abacha, made the call in an interview in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The ex-minister said the appeal became imperative in view of the fact that IPMAN threw Nigerians into an untold hardship toward the end of 2017 through 2018.

    According to him, the most appropriate solution to the lingering fuel scarcity in Nigeria is for the Federal Government to resort to stick approach against the erring independent marketers.

    “Remember, government is working for the interest of generality not few, however, majority of Nigerians are suffering at the expense of few, who exploit the opportunity to their advantage.

    “Therefore, stick approach is the best answer to this problem, government needs to treat IPMAN with an iron hand, revoke their licenses and re-introduce major marketers again.

    “Anybody willing to continue with fuel business should be directed to register with a major marketer; this will give government a level of control over the business.

    “When there is fuel problem government will eventually know whom to talk to, at the same time, these major marketers will not allow selfish individuals to tarnish their image built globally over time,” he said.

    He said the IPMAN members were accused of hoarding the fuel to create artificial scarcity in order to maximise profit, describing it as an unpatriotic act and a national tragedy.

    Dembo cited companies like Texaco, Total, Mobil, National and Agip as reliable firms who had curved a niche for themselves globally hence they won’t allow someone to spoil their hard earned names.

    Read also: 42 ships laden with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos ports

    The former minister recalled that Petroleum Equalisation Trust Fund was introduced during late Gen. Sani Abacha’s administration while he was the minister to assist IPMAN, who were now abusing the gesture.

    “IPMAN had engaged in activities detrimental to the livelihood of the common man, which is also inimical to national growth.

    “I want to use this medium to advise both officials and ordinary members of IPMAN to always have the fear of God Almighty in all their dealings with Nigerians.

    “They should bear in mind that one day they will stand before God, our creator to account for all they have done in this world,” he said.

    Dembo also advised the federal government to invite the company which constructed Nigerian refineries to refurbish and rehabilitate all moribund refineries across the country.

    He said such move would certainly make Nigeria sufficient in fuel production, thereby drastically reduce cost of fuel importation.

    NAN

  • Fuel scarcity: One storage facility functional at Ejigbo Depot, says IPMAN

    Fuel scarcity: One storage facility functional at Ejigbo Depot, says IPMAN

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria ( IPMAN ) has decried the situation whereby only one storage tank out of nine installed at the Ejigbo Depot was working.

    It appealed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) to rehabilitate all the moribund storage facilities within the depots which made up the western zone to enhance effective distribution of petroleum products.

    Alhaji Ayo Alanamu, the Chairman, Ejigbo Satellites Depot of IPMAN, said on Monday that this would address the fuel distribution challenges in the zone.

    He said only one out of nine storage tanks in Ejigbo Depot, was currently working; adding that this was not sufficient for petroleum distribution.

    He said this had also contributed to the scarcity of petrol and the long queues of trucks awaiting loading at the depot.

    According to him, marketers hardly load 50 trucks from the depot due to the dilapidated state of the storage tanks there.

    Read also: IPMAN urges Fed Govt to invest more in modular refineries to end fuel scarcity

    “ We were loading between 15 trucks and 17 trucks daily before it was repaired.

    “That was not enough for marketers to distribute to their customers.

    “ We appeal to the Federal Government through the NNPC to revive all the damaged tanks so as to increase the fuel storage capacity to 200 trucks daily.

    “ Government should ensure effective repairs of all the dilapidated storage facilities within the western zone to beef-up storage and loading capacity to at least 1million trucks on daily basis.

    “This will address frequent fuel challenges in the country,’’ he said.

    The IPMAN boss said if depots had enough stocks, marketers would work 24-hours to ensure that the product gets to every nook and cranny of the states.

    Alanamu appealed to the government to revive the depots so that they could operate to work 24-hours daily and facilitate effective service delivery to reduce queues within the depots.

    He also appealed to government to allow marketers to import petrol and sell at the current prevailing market price.
    According to him, no marketers can import at N171 landing cost per litre and sell at N145 at their stations.

    NAN

  • Appeal court affirms Okoronkwo IPMAN’s president

    Appeal court affirms Okoronkwo IPMAN’s president

    Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN have expressed joy over the Appeal Court judgment in Abuja, that declared Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo as the National President of the Association.

    IPMAN’s National Secretary, Alhaji Danladi Pasali, stated this after the National Executive Meeting (NEC) of the Association’s yesterday in Abuja.

    Pasali said the judgment and restoration of Okonkwo as the as IPMAN President would address the issues of misconduct and mismanagement that have plaqued the Association, saying the Court of Appeal, Abuja reaffirmed the High court judgment of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1479/2016 delivered on 28th day of May, 2014, which upheld the election of IPMAN National Executive committee of 10th May, 2014.

    Pasali said the interest of all members of the association will be a top priority of the President, adding that the judgment was a welcome development to IPMAN members nationwide, as well as the oil and gas industry. “The judgment once again confirmed Okoronkwo as substantive National President of IPMAN,” he restated.

    Pasali said IPMAN members nationwide welcomed the Appeal Court judgment as it would enable the Association maintain the serenity and orderliness members used to enjoy in the distribution and dispensing of petroleum products to Nigerians across the country.

    “Now that Okoronkwo is on IPMAN driver’s seat, members will get their allocation accordingly. The NEC had reached agreement with DAPPMA for better synergy in meeting product availability in the country since DAPPMA has better strength in storage.

    “IPMAN members own and control 80 per cent of fuel outlets in Nigeria and are better positioned to efficiently distribute and dispense fuel to Nigerians in urban and hinterland.

    Pasali said the judgment of the Appeal Court Abuja delivered on 7th December, 2017, confirmed the National Executive Committee members as Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, National President; Alhaji Abubakar Maigani Shettima, Vice President; Aihaji Danladi Pasali, National Secretary; Bola Adeleke, National Treasurer; Chief Leo Nkameme, National Organisational Secretary; Alhaji Yakubu Ali Dimka, National Auditor; Chief J.D. Ubani (JP), National Financial Secretary;  Dr  Hammed Adekunle Fashil, Assistant National Secretary; Alhaji Umar Baba Kano, National Legal Adviser; Chief Ezekwesili Maduagwuna, Chief Whip; and Alhaji Yakubu Suleman, National PRO.

  • Kachikwu rues Nigeria’s inability to refine oil

    Kachikwu rues Nigeria’s inability to refine oil

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, on Thursday described as shameful Nigeria’s inability to refine its crude oil.

    He stated this during the investigative public hearing on the current scarcity of petrol in different parts of the country.

    The minister vowed that the Federal Government would ultimately address the problem.

    Meanwhile, there was a mild drama at the Thursday hearing as three persons claimed during the introductory session they were the National president of the Independent Marketers Petroleum Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

    The trio were – Sanusi Fari, Chinedu Okorokwo and Obasi Lawson.

    However, the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) resolved that only the Executive Secretary of IPMAN, Aminu Abdulkadir‎, should speak for the association.

  • IPMAN commends judgment declaring Okoronkwo as National President

    IPMAN commends judgment declaring Okoronkwo as National President

    Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria ( IPMAN ) have commended a recent Appeal Court judgment in Abuja, which declared Chinedu Okoronkwo as the national president of the association.
    The marketers gave the commendation in a statement issued by their National Secretary, Alhaji Danladi Passali, after the National Executive Meeting (NEC) on Wednesday in Abuja.
    Passali stated that the new development would address the issues of misconduct and mismanagement, which they say, is currently rocking the association.
    He said that Okoronkwo remains the substantive national president of IPMAN based on the Appeal court judgment in the suit number: No CA/A/397/2014.
    The Appeal Court re-affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court judgment, Federal Capital Territory, in the suit No FCT/HC/CV/1479/2016.
    The lower court in its judgment delivered on May 28, 2014, upheld the election of IPMAN National Executive committee, conducted on May 10, 2014.
    According to him, the interest of all members of the association will be a top priority of the president.
    The scribe said that the judgment was a welcome development to IPMAN members, and the oil and gas industry nationwide.
    “The judgment will enable us maintain the serenity we normally enjoyed in the distribution and dispensing of petroleum products to Nigerians in all nooks and crannies of the country.
    “Now that Okoronkwo is on the IPMAN association’s driver seat, members will get their allocation accordingly.
    “The NEC has reached an agreement with Depot Owner and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) for better synergy in meeting product availability in the country since DAPPMA has better strength in storage.
    “And IPMAN, which controlled 80 per cent outlets, has the better trend in distribution and dispensing in both urban and hinterland in the country,’’ Passali said.

  • IPMAN urges Fed Govt to invest more in modular refineries to end fuel scarcity

    IPMAN urges Fed Govt to invest more in modular refineries to end fuel scarcity

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) yesterday urged the Federal Government to invest more in modular refineries as a way to end fuel scarcity.

    Its Chairman, South-west zone, Alhaji Debo Ahmed, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo only two days ago in Lagos, confirmed that 10 modular refineries were at advanced stages of development in the Niger Delta.

    The 10 modular refineries are located in five out of the nine states in the Niger Delta.

    The states include Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Imo states.

    Osinbajo said two of the refineries, Amakpe Refinery (Akwa Ibom), and OPAC Refinery (Delta State), have had their mini-refinery modules already fabricated, assembled and containerized overseas and ready for shipment to Nigeria for installation.

    The total proposed refining capacities of the 10 licensed refineries stands at 300,000 barrels.

    Ahmed said the modular refineries could help address any shortfall in fuel supply pending when additional refineries would be built.

    “It will also boost the country’s revenue generation and address frequent fuel capacity experienced during the yuletide seasons.

    “Our expectation in 2018 is for the government to invest more on modular refineries to be able to have more petrol locally to address scarcity,’’ he said.

    Ahmed said government had performed credibility well in the downstream sector in 2017, adding that it should crown it by building more modular refineries.

    According to him, a modular refinery is cheaper to build and it can move from one place to another.

    “A modular refinery is capable of refining between 10,000 and 35,000 barrels of crude oil per day,’’he said.

    He also urged the government to provide incentives that would attract investors to the oil and gas sector.

  • IPMAN: we now get 80 trucks daily

    IPMAN: we now get 80 trucks daily

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has raised the hope of an end to petrol scarcity, saying its members now get a supply of 80 trucks of petrol from Ejigbo satellite in Lagos and Mosimi depot in Ogun State.

    IPMAN Lagos Chairman Alhaji Alanamu Balogun in a statement said before the petrol crisis, the NNPC was supplying IPMAN members only six trucks daily, but in the last five days, the NNPC had increased the supply to 80 trucks per day. He said with the increase in supply, IPMAN members and NNPC employees had been working 24 hours daily to ensure that petrol is supplied all over Lagos and Ogun States.

    Alhaji Balogun said the NNPC had repaired all the existing facilities at Ejigbo satellite depot to enhance fuel supply. According to him, the NNPC had promised to repair all its facilities in Ilorin, Ibadan and Ore depots to ensure regular fuel supply nationwide.

    He commended the DPR Lagos zone to ensure good relationship between the NNPC, PPRA, DAPMAN, MAN and other stake holders.