The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has urged the Federal Government to hastily complete the ongoing revamping work on the Port Harcourt Refinery in a bid to cushion the effect of the hike and unavailability of Products.

The association made the call during the Port Harcourt Depot Unit‘s 2023 Annual General Meeting/Election, AGM, in Rivers State, yesterday, wherein Tekena ThankGod Ikpaki was elected Chairman.

The new chairman of the body, Ikpaki, in his address assured that his administration would ensure better leadership of the body.

He noted that the non-functionality of the refinery has pushed many of its members out of business.

He, however, advised that the facility should be completed and put into use, adding that the delay was affecting businesses in the area.

He said: “We will bring in new ideas into the leadership of the body. We were elected to manage the activities of IPMAN.  We want to make a difference.

“It is our sole duty to make sure that everybody is satisfied even if man’s desires are insatiable. We will try our best to ensure that products that will come from the refinery when it is complete get to our members and then it gets to our communities.

“The non-functionality of the refinery has crippled a lot of businesses and a lot of people have gone out of business. People who cannot sustain with the little that is available to them.

“Goods and services as we know move from one part of the country to another is transportation and this works with petroleum products. The dilapidation of the refinery has affected the movement of goods and services.”

Meanwhile, the Zonal Chairman, System 2E of IPMAN, Prince Bobby-Ibekwe, has expressed optimism that the Port Harcourt Refinery would commence full operation in early 2024.

Bobby-Ibekwe charged the newly elected executive of the body to ensure that members get products to sell when the Port Harcourt Refinery commence operation.

He challenged the Port Harcourt Unit executive of IPMAN to ensure the protection of the interest of IPMAN and members of the public in other to reduce the suffering experienced by the people occasioned by harsh economic conduction.