Tina Amanda
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Rivers State chapter, has temporarily suspended its withdrawal of service, following the intervention of the state government, stakeholders and security agencies on the crisis that rocked the Eleme refinery depot some days ago.
IPMAN State Chairman, Dr. Joseph Obele, in an interview with our correspondent, said Petroleum Marketers have commenced lifting of petroleum products across Rivers state.
He affirmed that the gradually building up scarcity of Petroleum product in other states is not arising from the IPMAN related matter.
“About four days ago, some thugs invaded the Port Harcourt Depot demanding from Marketers the sum of ten thousand naira before loading and the refusal of our members to pay resulted to thugs beaten up some marketers. We reported the issue to the National President of IPMAN and he directed us to withdraw our services.
“Through the intervention of Rivers State government, security agencies and well meaning stakeholders, at about 6pm yesterday, we agreed that temporary we will commence lifting of petroleum products which we started at about 8pm.”
Dr. Obele explained further that Petroleum Marketers are currently experiencing a gap in supply chain, due to non-availability of sufficient product from PPMC and Importers, which is gradually building up scarcity and long queues in filling stations in some states.
“This morning, 16 November, we seen in Lagos, Abuja and some northern part of Nigeria, queues are gradually and seriously building up. The refineries are not working and the total number of vessels that are supposed to be coming into the country from the international market are not coming in since two months ago.
“The petroleum scarcity building up gradually in some states is arising from the fact that dollar is scarce and the price of crude oil is above eighty (80) dollar per barrel against the fifty (50) barrel before.”
