Fuel Hike: IPMAN Seeks Functional Depots

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has blamed the high cost of petroleum products on non-functional depots in the country.

The Eastern Zonal Chairman of IPMAN, Chief Chukwudi Ezinwa, said this in Enugu on Sunday while briefing journalists on its activities.

Ezinwa said the price of petroleum products would fall when all the 21 depots in the country were functional,

He urged the Federal Government to reactivate the depots in the country in order to ensure availability of petroleum products.

The chairman, who also argued that the deregulation of the oil sector would boost the economy if well managed, said:

“We are not afraid of deregulation. It is the best thing that can happened to marketers.

“The end users will not benefit from it if they cannot buy fuel and kerosene at government price.’’

Ezinwa, however, commended the Federal Government over its plan to build two refineries, saying that it would go a long way in transforming the country.

“When we have our refineries, the practice of taking our crude oil out to refine it will be a thing of the past,’’ he said.

On vandalism of pipelines, especially in the South East Zone, Ezinwa said it was the responsibility of all tiers of government as well as communities to fight the menace.

“The Federal Government is doing its best to reactivate the pipeline from Port Harcourt to Enugu but the problem is the non-involvement of the state governors of the zone.

“Governors of every state, especially those in the South East, should join the fight against vandalism because they receive security vote. The Federal Government alone cannot do it.

“The time has come for them to utilise the security vote, particularly now that we have security issues in the country,’’ he said. (NAN)

loading...