By Moses Patience Chat
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has threatened to sanction private depots that sell petrol, also known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), above the approved pump price.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by IPMAN’s Chairman in Kano State, Alhaji Bashir Dan Malam, that was made available to journalists on Friday.
Dan Malam expressed the need for both private depot owners and marketers to sell products at a controlled prices, since they don’t pay extra money to the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to get their allocation. He also cautioned marketers to be careful of some individuals who have been reported of using their license to acquire allocations from NNPC illegally.
The IPMAN Chairman said this, following constant complaints from the Management of NNPC Limited, that some individuals who have no business with petroleum products are in the habit of collecting fuel allocations from the company illegally by presenting names licensed filling stations. He narrated that the decision to issue the warning was taken during a meeting between the Management of NNPC and IPMAN.
According to him, the Company has promised to revoke the bulk purchase license of any marketer who allows random individuals use their license to get allocations.
He therefore warned those who engaged in the illegal act to refrain from doing so as anyone caught will be reported to security agents for appropriate action. Dan Malam stated that the Management of NNPC and IPMAN would not sit back and allow such illegal acts to continue at the detriment of genuine fuel marketers in the country.