IPMAN Commends Buhari For Lifting Ban On Fuel Supply To Border Communities
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) had on Monday lauded the Federal Government for lifting the ban placed on the supply of petroleum products to border communities across the country.
According to the information received, IPMAN’s President, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, said that the lifting of the ban was a huge relief to marketers affected by government’s decision.
It was reported that the government had on Nov. 6, 2019 directed that petroleum products should not be supplied to filling stations within 20 kilometres of the border.
However, the government had in a circular dated March 18 granted waivers to 66 filling stations at various border communities to lift and supply fuel.
Okoronkwo therefore said that the ban was lifted after series of engagements between oil marketers and the Nigeria Customs Service.
The IPMAN president disclosed that oil marketers were making plans to deploy modern technology in running their businesses to curb smuggling and diversion of products.
On the compliance of independent marketers with the new fuel price of N125 per litre, he said market forces would force them to comply.
However, he appealed to the government to find ways to mitigate the losses recorded by marketers following the reduction of the price from N145 per litre to N125 per litre.
Meanwhile, five days after the announcement of the new fuel price regime, majority of outlets operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and major marketers in Lagos State have started selling at the new price.
According to the report the situation was monitored on Monday at Obalende, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Ikeja, Yaba and Abule-Egba observed a high level of compliance.
Mr Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, NNPC, had in a statement on Wednesday said the new price of PMS will become effective from March 19.
A tricycle operator, Mr Usman Abdullahi said that some independent marketers started complying on Monday 23, March, 2020 after running out of old stock over the weekend.
SOURCE: opr.news
