•••Threatens To Stop Distribution in South East
By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
Fuel scarcity is looming as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has threatened to withdraw its services totally from Eastern part of the country if the harassment and intimidation from the security agencies continue without check from the Federal Government.
This was contained in a statement by the Eastern Zonal Chairman, Prince Bobby Eberechi Dick.
The IPMAN, alleged that some miscreants, who are not members, even without having filling stations have secured the services of security agencies to harass and intimate its members.
He said that the miscreants engaged the Army, Police and Civil Defence to extort N15,000 from IPMAN members loading products at a private depot in Rivers State.
According to the statement: “The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Eastern Zone wish to draw the attention of the Federal Government to the incessant harassment and intimidation of our members by security Agencies.
“Few days ago some miscreants who are not members of our association, who do not have even one filling station went and secured the services of the Nigerian Police, the Army, the Civil Defence to block the gate of private depots where we load petroleum products in Rivers state, saying every IPMAN member must pay a levy of fifteen thousand naira (N15000) before our members can load.
“Also on the claim by one of them, Mr Aliche Oti that petroleum tanker drivers are holding IPMAN levy, to put the record straight petroleum tanker driver don’t collect IPMAN levy, IPMAN staffs are deployed to all the depots to do their legitimate work. It is IPMAN that buys product and hire the services of tanker drivers.
“When the report got to the Zonal Executive Council of Eastern zone, investigation was carried out to know where they are deriving their powers from and on what bases, we found out it was an act of intimidation to force our members to do the wish of their pay masters.
“IPMAN has legitimate constituted authority headed by our National President, Alhaji Ahmed Dhebo.
“Based on this act of harassment and intimidation, we have withdrawn our services from all the private depots in Rivers State.
“We are calling on the Federal Government especially our dogged Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike to intervene.
“We know the Governor cannot allow anyone to disrupt the good business environment he has created in River state. This will cause a serious scarcity in Rivers state and neighbouring states.
“If this harassment, intimidation and blockage of the depots where we are doing our legitimate business by these hoodlums and hired security agent is not addressed, we will have no other choice than to shut down all stations within Eastern Zone.
“We are law abiding citizens, we are being guided by the constitution of IPMAN and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. With IPMAN the distribution of petroleum products within zone is assured,” it said.
