The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has expressed hope that with ongoing talks with Dangote Refinery, and intervention of the DSS, the price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as fuel, may have a downward review.
The national president of IPMAN, Abubakar Shettima, disclosed this yesterday during the inauguration of a national monitoring/ surveillance team on illegal oil bunkering, smuggling, pipelines vandalism as well as adulteration of petroleum products and other sharp practices.
He said what led to the expected possible fuel reduction is due to the intervention of the director general, DSS, Kayode Ajayi, the petroleum marketers and the NNPC
“At the end of the day, the issue is being resolved whereby we have a small reduction in Lagos parts, we have another reduction in Calabar parts , Warri and Port Harcourt.
“Infact, when we got that small reduction, we calculated to see how we can get that small reduction but what we tried to do initially, we wanted to take our money out through the NNPC so that we can create other business partners, which is Dangote. We are still negotiating with Dangote to see the way we can start getting products from him directly.
Shettima added that the association has recently started negotiations whereby the DSS instructed the NDMPRA to issue importing licences to petroleum marketers and at the same time to issue licences whereby they will be able to load products through Dangote.
“By the time the independent petroleum marketers start loading their products directly, you may find out that there may be a change in price.”
On the refund of their money by NNPC he said the association was still in discussion with NNPC with the promise they will start loading the marketers today.
“I’ve called all my members to make sure they’re in their various depots wherever they have outstanding payments so that they will be able to load their products and bring their products and discharge in their filling stations and make sure that they sell these products in 24 hours.
Asked whether it’s on the old or new price, he said, “Actually, they gave a certain number but since our money has been with them (NNPC) for a very long time, there’s no way we can buy that product at that rate and actually they accepted due to the DG, DSS intervention whereby presently now, they have a small reduction.”
Speaking at the inauguration of the taskforce, the IPMAN national president said the taskforce became Imperative due to the bad name the association has been getting from the Nigerian public.
He said, “ Most of the people are thinking that we are involved. So by now, when our independent taskforce starts moving, all those people who are trying to sabotage the efforts of the government will be brought to book and the populace will know that they’re not our members.
He noted that the task force which will be permanent and across the country, has 36 state coordinators which will coordinate and liaise with the security agencies so that the menace will be brought to an end.
Meanwhile, the coordinator of the newly inaugurated National Monitoring and Surveillance of IPMAN, Isah Abdullahi Gusau, while accepting the responsibility, said the task is enormous and promised to be a team player.
