IPMAN threatens closure after DSS warning amid fuel shortage
In response to the Department of State Security’s ultimatum to marketers, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Ogun State has threatened to close all of its locations there (DSS).
Due to the fuel shortage, DSS had last week issued a 48-hour deadline to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and oil marketers to make gasoline widely available throughout Nigeria.
However, in response to the DSS ultimatum, IPMAN stated that such a policy “failed in its sense of reasoning with legitimate company owners who do not obtain merchandise from government’s depot to sell same at government approved price.”
The secret police have been urged to pursue those who are making it difficult for IPMAN members to obtain supplies, according to a statement from Femi Adelaja, the association’s chairman in Ogun.
The DSS agents, he continued, “have chosen the path of dishonour by threatening to go after IPMAN members, whose businesses depend on loans and other credit facilities given by commercial banks at a not-so-friendly interest rate,” to intimidate IPMAN members.
The statement said, “Instead of the security operatives going after those who are preventing IPMAN members from getting supplies, they have chosen the path of dishonour by threatening to go after IPMAN members, whose businesses depend on loans and other credit facilities provided by commercial banks at a not-so-friendly interest rate.
“If any law enforcement agency in Nigeria is genuinely concerned about the security of the nation, they should go after the NNPCL officials and make sure that they make the product available to independent marketers at the already agreed-upon price and desist from the needless ranting “of a wounded lion”,”
Adelaja characterised the DSS position on gasoline shortages as a ruse by a government agency that has failed in its statutory responsibilities and opted to pursue legitimate business investors all in the name of protecting the country.
In light of this, the association issued a warning to the DSS, urging it to retract its earlier decision to crack down on IPMAN members and to apologise to Nigerians for its behaviour.
“IPMAN, however, warned that should the DSS fails to reconsider its position and apologise to the peace loving elements of the Nigerian society, whose psyche was impacted by its earlier remark,” he said. “We would be left with no alternative but to close all our shops across Ogun State.”
