IPMAN threatens to stop petroleum supplies to Ogun

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, on Wednesday, threatened to cease petroleum product supplies to Ogun State due to what it described as ongoing harassment by an “illegal Task Force” set up by the state government to combat fuel pump price manipulation.

The new IPMAN state chairman in Mosimi Depot, Chief Solomon Ajayi, disclosed this in Abeokuta, the state capital, while addressing journalists about the state of IPMAN’s operations across the state, particularly the frequent alleged harassment of their staff by the Task Force.

Ajayi explained that the administration led by Governor Dapo Abiodun inaugurated a Task Force on 6 November 2024, which has been visiting IPMAN members’ filling stations to demand measuring cans and has been engaging in a series of harassment of its members.

He maintained that the establishment of the Task Force, chaired by one Adeyemi Badejo and composed of operatives from the Nigeria Police, personnel from the state’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement agency, as well as the state-owned television station, contradicts legal provisions outlined in Sections 48 and 309 of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

Calling for immediate intervention from the relevant government authorities, IPMAN firmly stated that its members would suspend supplies to the state from Monday, 18 November, “should the Task Force continue to disturb our members, and no petroleum products trucks will be allowed to enter the state.”

“It is unfortunate that IPMAN members are always targeted when government policies negatively impact the public. In my opinion, the Task Force is unnecessary and illegal. Sections 48 and 309 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 forbid the establishment of such a task force.”

“What the Ogun State government seeks to achieve is being pursued illegally and must be strongly opposed.”

It was reported that IPMAN, Mosimi Depot, has also lodged a complaint with the state’s field office of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority through a letter dated 11 November 2024, expressing displeasure over the Task Force’s illegal formation.

In the letter, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Abeokuta, IPMAN emphasised that all its members are law-abiding citizens, committed to conducting their legitimate business within the law and will not succumb to intimidation from any government agents.

The letter reads in part, “We write to inform your esteemed office of a new Task Force recently established by the Ogun State government. The team has been visiting our petroleum dispensing stations, forcibly requesting measuring cans to measure petroleum products, harassing our staff, and demanding money.

“We hereby bring to your attention these fraudulent acts being perpetrated by the Task Force at our fuelling stations across the state. All our members are law-abiding citizens, conducting their legitimate businesses within the law.”