Marketers threaten shut-down of fuel supply to Kaduna

Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have threatened to stop the supply of petroleum products to Kaduna following the action of the state government, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), whom they accused of selling fuel free of charge to the public over allegations of hoarding the products.

Speaking with journalists in Kaduna, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of IPMAN, Alhaji Yakubu Suleiman, said: “It is irrational for anyone to expect our members to go to independent marketers in Lagos and other places and source for products at exorbitant prices and then sell at government control prices.”

Suleiman lamented that besides the high rate at which members purchase the product, they still spend money on transport to Kaduna and so the government cannot force them to sell at government approved pump price because they will be doing so at a loss.

“We (IPMAN) have already directed our members that from today they should not to go and buy fuel from any private depot and then come and sell in Kaduna State, as they will be doing so at a loss because they will either be compelled to sell at government price or made to lose the product to the public free of charge.

“Ironically, we are helping the government to boost fuel supply because the government does not have enough fuel to supply since the refineries are not working.

“Our members have been urged to comply with this directive until we sit down with the state government and DPR to sort out the problem. We want to assist the government and people of Kaduna State that is why our members go all out with our money to go and get this product anywhere and come to sell in Kaduna.

“But rather than getting thanks, what we get in return is the sealing off of our stations and distributing our fuel free to the public without attempt to even find out why we are selling at high prices. So, we are halting our fuel supply to Kaduna State for now. Whenever government has fuel, they should come and sell for us in our station, we will buy from them”.

The IPMAN PRO also called on the Kaduna State government, DPR, NSCDC to sit down with the members of the Association like other states have
been doing and negotiate on the price they should sell, which will be agreeable to all sides”.