IPMAN urges members to resume operations as PTD suspends strike

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), yesterday, directed its members in the Southeast to resume sale of petrol at between N162 and N165 per litre.

This followed the suspension of the strike embarked upon by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) in the Southeast zone.
Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot Community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, Chinedu Anyaso, gave the directive at an interactive session with journalists in Awka.

He disclosed that the decision to suspend the strike was reached on Wednesday at a meeting between the Imo State Government, representatives of the national leadership of IPMAN and PTD in Owerri, Imo State.

Anyaso insisted that the resumption of product distribution took immediate effect and that the area was already getting products, just as he commended the Imo State government and the PTD for the amicable resolution of the crisis.

He also commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 6, 2021 Anambra State governorship election, Andy Uba and others, saying they worked hard to resolve the conflict, which induced hardship on residents of the zone.

“IPMAN is happy that the disagreement between the Imo State government and PTD in the zone has been resolved and we hope that produce distribution will resume immediately. We appreciate the Imo State government, PTD, Uba and those who made it possible.”

PTD Zonal Chairman, Peter Modebelu, who also confirmed the suspension of the industrial action said: “We have suspended the strike and members have started conveying products in the zone.”

The Guardian recalled that the tanker drivers in Southeast showed solidarity with their colleagues in Imo State to protest against demolition of a member’s filling stations by the Imo State Government and failure to compensate him.

The strike resulted in artificial scarcity of petroleum products in the Southeast, which forced marketers to increase the cost of petrol from N200 and N350 per litre.