Oil Marketers Threaten To Withdraw Service In Lagos, Ogun

The Independent Petroleum Markers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Lagos State chapter, has threatened to shut down their filling stations in Lagos State and parts of Ogun State by December 11.

The association accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of undersupplying its members with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and was also frustrating them by reneging on the bulk purchase agreement it signed with its members to supply the product to them at N133.28k per litre.

In a statement on Thursday signed its Chairman, Alhaji Alanamu Balogun; Vice-Chairman, Pastor Gbenga Ilupeju, and Secretary, Prince Kunle Oyenuga, IPMAN noted that no fewer than 900 filling stations will be shut down in Lagos if the situation persists.

The association particularly complained of a shortage of product supply to Ejigbo satellite depot, which, it said, serves more than 900 filling stations in Lagos revealing that with the undersupply from the NNPC, its members were being forced to approach the Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association, which allegedly buys at N117 per litre from the NNPC and resells to IPMAN members at N141 per litre.

IPMAN complained that the rate had become unrealistic for them to continue to sell to the end users at the regulated price of N145 and still expect to break even in business as it called on the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to avert an imminent fuel crisis in the nation’s commercial nerve centre.

“We have endured enough and are set for a showdown with the NNPC for irregular supply at Ejigbo satellite depot, Lagos,” the association said.

“We have held many meetings with both the NNPC and DAPMAN, questioning why should the NNPC supplies fuel to DAPMAN at N117 per litre and DAPMAN will turn around to sell the same fuel to IPMAN members at N141 and the NNPC wants marketers to sell to the public at N145 per litre.

“The NNPC made it as a condition that we must renew our agreement with it or we will not get fuel supply. This agreement has been renewed yet, the NNPC has refused to supply us with fuel.

“The same agreement the NNPC signed with us is what it signed with DAPMAN. While DAPMAN gets supplies, IPMAN members are being denied fuel supply, which means the NNPC officials are into a game.

“The Federal Government should step into this matter between now and December 11 to avoid fuel crisis.”