THE Association of Nigeria Refineries Petroleum Marketers (ANRPM), has announced the appointment of Mr Henschel Chigozie Nwozuzu, as its Caretaker National President for a five-month term, effective March 2.

The appointment, which was approved by the Founder and Chairman, National Board of Trustees, Alhaji Usman Bature Ali, is subject to confirmation based on his performance.

The letter of appointment, presented to  Nwozuzu at a ceremony in Abuja yesterday, revealed that his mandate includes overseeing refineries/depot activities, crude oil marketing, product allocations and establishing task forces for surveillance, intelligence and anti-sabotage.

Addressing the gathering, Nwozuzu said his priority is to strengthen governance and restructure the association to meet its objectives.

He added that the association’s core objectives revolve around combating artificial scarcity, preventing illegal blending of petroleum products and assisting members in acquiring the necessary licenses to operate within the regulated oil and gas sector.

While noting the association’s role in supporting government agencies, he said that despite the presence of federal regulatory authorities, enforcement remains challenging, particularly in rural areas.

He said: “The association is here to guide our members step by step in establishing, managing and running service stations profitably while ensuring compliance with federal regulations and environmental standards.

“However, security and regulatory enforcement are the responsibility of all stakeholders. With the limited capacity of government agencies, associations like ours play a crucial role in providing real-time intelligence and oversight.”

Nwozuzu described the association’s membership base, which primarily consists of service station owners and aspiring marketers interested in entering the petroleum business.

He stated that ANRPM not only facilitate licensing and operational guidance but also promotes collaboration among its members and with government security agencies, including the Civil Defence and anti-bunkering units.

He added: “The oil and gas business is in the federal exclusive list. Every infraction is monetised and penalised. You cannot just enter this business without following the rudiments. For example, we helped the NMDPR investigate a station in Imo State that had operated for years without the requisite certificate. That is a serious infraction that attracts statutory penalties.

“Even with federal regulatory authorities, the reality is that they are often incapacitated, especially in rural areas. The work of security and regulation is everyone’s responsibility. This is where associations like ours come in – providing real-time information to help authorities act decisively.

“We are encouraging Nigerian youths to get involved in the oil and gas sector. Local and modular refineries can serve their communities, provide jobs and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products. With proper guidance and training, these initiatives will add value to the society.”

On the association’s history, Chairman,  Board of Trustees, Alhaji Usman Bature Ali, explained that ANRPM was founded in 2018 to benefit youths and petroleum marketers, as well as assist government in addressing bunkering, adulteration and other irregularities in the downstream sector.

The chairman noted that the association has consistently engaged with federal authorities, including the Ministry of Oil and Gas, to ensure alignment with national regulations