Fuel scarcity looms as IPMAN threatens strike action over alleged extortion
…DPR clarifies request for daily stock record
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Suleja/Abuja Unit, has threatened to embark on an industrial action over alleged extortion by officials of Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR.
Chairman of the Unit, Yahaya Ahman Alhassan, who stated this in a chat with journalists on Sunday, said the strike action will commence on Monday, June 21, 2021.
IPMAN also said that DPR request for daily transaction records from filling stations is another bone of contention.
According to Alhassan, “IPMAN has no other alternative other than instructing our members not to load from Suleja depot in Niger State to express our frustrations after all efforts to make DPR officials desist from unethical practices failed.”
He added that “IPMAN Suleja/Abuja Unit needs explanation from DPR concerning demand for daily sale activities from filling stations,” saying “these issues have to be resolved before we can commence lifting of products from the depot.”
Similarly, Secretary of the Unit, Raji Munir, said that “a situation whereby the regulatory agency of federal government is engaging in unethical practices was most unfortunate.”
In this vein, Raji said he aligned himself “whole heatedly in support of the strike” with a view to addressing “our grievances.”
He also said that IPMAN monitoring team will “be fully on ground throughout the unit to ensure compliance during the strike.”
Reacting to this development, Department for Petroleum Resources, DPR, stated that the request for daily stock of products supplied is a statutory regulatory requirement for any retail outlet license holder, which enables DPR to provide accurate petroleum products consumption data for the country.
“This regulatory oversight is at no cost to the retail outlets. The provision of the daily stock report, which is also applicable to petroleum products depots also enables DPR to provide investment guide to investors in line with its role as a buisness enabler and opportunity house for the oil and gas industry”, DPR said.
“The Department wishes to inform all marketers that all applications and applicable statutory fees for retail outlet operations have been migrated online- www.dpr.gov.ng in furtherance of the federal government’s ease of doing buisness policy. The Department charges all marketers to report any noticeable infraction or perceived illegality by our officers, as we will continue to engage all our stakeholders in ensuring energy security for Nigerians”, it said.
