IPMAN Suspends Planned Strike Amid Persistent Fuel Scarcity

• Nigerians have had a tough time buying fuel for several months.

• IPMAN, a group of petroleum marketers, has complained that its members are not getting enough supply.

• The situation forced the association’s chapter in Borno to halt all operations earlier on Tuesday.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Borno State Chapter, has directed its members to immediately reopen all its outlets across the state.

The state chapter of IPMAN had earlier ordered its members to suspend payments for petroleum products and other operations until further notice.

The association said the decision followed the loss being recorded by its members who are being compelled by the government and its agencies to sell petroleum products at certain prices.

However, it made a U-turn in a statement by its chairman, Mohammed Kuluwu, later on Tuesday.

The association directed its members in the state to resume operations.

The Borno chapter of IPMAN stated that it reversed itself after meeting with concerned authority.

“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 keeps you informed,” the statement reads.

Earlier on Monday, IPMAN had appealed to the Nigerian government for more time to sell petroleum products at the official price of N195 per litre.

Joseph Akanni, Vice Chairman of IPMAN, Western Zone, said regulatory agencies enforced the pump price of petrol at N195 per litre at all filling stations across the country.

“We have already instructed our members not to buy high-priced petroleum products. We will only be buying products from NNPC,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The fuel scarcity across the country has persisted despite the government’s repeated claims it had enough petroleum products in stock amid a poor supply of electricity across the country.

Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the constitution of a 14-member steering committee to address the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.