IPMAN to Nigerians: Don’t engage in panic buying — we’re not going on strike

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says it is not planning to embark on a nationwide strike.

Sanusi Fari, IPMAN national president, in a statement by Chidid Nnubia, its national secretary, asked the public to dismiss any information regarding the planned strike.

Yakubu Suleiman, the association’s spokesperson, had said the association instructed its members to shut down operations over alleged harassment by the police.

Suleiman had alleged that some police officers invaded the association’s national secretariat on Friday over leadership issues among members.

But Fari asked petroleum dealers and the public to ignore Suleiman’s statement and also advised the public not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products.

The IPMAN president condemned attempts by some groups within the association to “blackmail” the government by calling out marketers for a nationwide protest.

Fari said the association was working harmoniously with sister organisations including the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers and the National Association of Road Transport Owners.

He said IPMAN was working with the petroleum tanker drivers unit of NUPENG to ensure an adequate supply of petroleum products nationwide.

“We wish to inform the general public that our members have no plans to shut down any petrol station in the country as there is no reason to take such action,” he said.

“Our members are directed to disregard a publication by some persons whose stock in trade is to sabotage the efforts of the Federal Government and the PPMC to provide uninterrupted supply of petroleum products nationwide.

“We ask the general public to ignore any information emanating from any unscrupulous individuals attempting to hijack the association for their selfish and profiteering adventure.

“Those individuals lack the capacity to call off our services as they are illegally parading themselves as officers of the association in total disregard and disobedience of a Supreme Court judgment of Dec. 14, 2018.

“We enjoin the public to go about their normal activities as we continue to support the Federal Government through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC to ensure availability of petroleum products across the country,’’ Fari said in the statement.

Fari asked any member not satisfied with the supreme court’s order to seek redress in court and not resort to “an empty threat that might make the motoring public engage in panic buying of petroleum products”.