*Rules Out Withdrawal Of Service In Anambra Over N.9bn Debt
*Calls On Soludo To Pay Up
By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has concluded plans to ensure fuel pump integrity in fuel stations by checking all forms of pump cheating and malpractices.
Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Unit, Chief Chinedu Anyaso, disclosed this today to newsmen shortly after the Unit’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Enugu.
IPMAN Enugu Unit covers independent petroleum marketers in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States as well as those in some parts of Abia, Imo, Kogi and Cross River States.
Anyaso said that the need to maintain optimal integrity of fuel pumps by IPMAN members was unanimously agreed by all in order to ensure that Nigerians get value for money.
He said that the association had vowed to maintain its hard-earned reputation of service and product excellence, adding: “IPMAN resolved and planned to set up a task force to ensure compliance of all members to fuel pump integrity.”
According to him, the task force will be inaugurated in September and will comprise a team for each state under the Unit.
“In order to sanitise the system and ensure that the reputation of IPMAN and our members’ fuel stations are maintained, the members during the AGM unanimously agreed that fuel pump cheating and malpractice must be stopped.
“IPMAN will set up a daily mandate task force soon, while the association’s members collectively agreed on a heavy monetary fine as well as sanction for any defaulting fuel station owned by any member,” he said.
Chief Anyaso noted that the association had resolved to be firm in dealing with the menace through its own internal disciplinary mechanism; just as the association eradicated stocking bad fuel.
The Chairman said that the Unit also appreciated the strides of various State governors and governments on development especially road and security infrastructure in the Unit’s states of coverage.
“We are encouraged by the governors’ commitment to continue to create a conducive business environment and to ensure smooth road corridors for fuel products to get to all nooks and crannies of the Unit,” he said.
Anyaso noted that the members unanimously agreed that the body would again write Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State on the issue of internally generated revenue (IGR) of fuel stations in his State.
“We commend him for the discussion so far; however, we are calling all involved to come to a roundtable and resolve their differences and come to an amicable compromise for the benefit of all,” he said.
The Chairman said that the members also resolved to write to Gov. Soludo again on the over N900 million debt owed IPMAN members who supplied diesel for the running of streetlights in the state.
“The Anambra State Government debt has been recurring for the past one year notwithstanding three times official letters and direct appeals to the governor and functionaries of the state concerned, till now nothing has been done.
“We are taking the diplomatic route since we do not want to direct our members to go on strike or stop sales of fuel products, which will compound the suffering and hardship of ordinary citizens.
“If IPMAN members go on strike, it is clear that a litre of fuel (petrol) might go up to about between N2,000 and N3,000 in the state as well as other attendant negative impacts of such a move.
“However, we want the state government to listen to our appeal and the pathetic situation of IPMAN members, who had made the supply and are currently indebted to financial institutions.
“It is on record that within some months eight of our owed members had died, as fallout of the stress and shock they get from financial institutions that want them to repay their loans in an aggressive manner.
“Some of them, their stations had been taken over by the financial institutions, some closed already and many laid off their staff due to financial incapacitation,” he said.
The Chairman noted that members,at the AGM, also deliberated on welfare issues, better ways of lifting petrol products and how to participate in the Dangote Direct Sales and Delivery Scheme as well as JEZCO Oil and Gas Limited’s offer to assist members.
The meeting featured presentations from Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS) on how to file tax returns electronically; and by TradeGrid Limited on ways the firm can facilitate petroleum products lifting and installation of solar power in fuel stations, among others.
The AGM was attended by no fewer than 621 IPMAN Enugu Unit members drawn across the association’s coverage states and areas.
