BY SEYIFUNMI LUMEKO
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has debunked the claim that the Independent Petroleum Marketers are proceeding on indefinite strike.
In a rebuttal, it said IPMAN is neither planning to go on strike nor planning to shut fuel stations nationwide, its National President, Alhaji Sanusi Fari, said on Monday.
Mr Chidi Nnubia, IPMAN National Secretary, in a statement issued in Awka and signed urged Nigerians to dismiss the information of proceeding on strike.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Yakubu Suleiman, IPMAN’s National Public Relation Officer, had earlier issued a statement in Abuja threatening that the association would proceed on strike.
According to him, the police laid siege on its secretariat has continuously, hence IPMAN from tomorrow Tuesday would go on strike and shut fuel stations nationwide.
On his part, Alhaji Fari, the IPMAN’s National President, urged petroleum dealers and the public to ignore IPMAN’s National Public Relation Officer, Alhaji Yakubu Suleiman position, calling for a strike.
Fari who also advised the public not to engage in panic buying petroleum products, said: “We wish to inform the general public that our members have no plans to shut down any petrol station in the country as there is no reason to take such action.
“We ask the general public to ignore any information emanating from any unscrupulous individuals attempting to hijack the association for their selfish and profiteering adventure.
“Those individuals lack the capacity to call off our services as they are illegally parading themselves as officers of the association in total disregard and disobedience of a Supreme Court judgment of Dec. 14, 2018.
The IPMAN president condemned attempts by some groups within the association to blackmail the government by calling out marketers for a nationwide protest.
Fari said IPMAN was working harmoniously with sister organisations including the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers and the National Association of Road Transport Owners.
