The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has threatened to stop supplying petroleum products to Kaduna following the action of the Kaduna State Government, Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for distributing their fuel free of charge over hoarding allegations.
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.”
He lamented that besides the high rate at which they purchased the product, they still spend money to transport the products down to Kaduna and so the government cannot force them to sell at government approved rate because they will be doing so at a loss.
“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”.