M a r k e t N e w s
IPMAN seeks govt s intervention in kerosene, diesel supply
Posted on : Wednesday , 17th September 2014
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called on the Federal Government to intervene in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry to ensure adequate supply of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) popularly called kerosene and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) commonly called diesel, to avert scarcity.
IPMAN’s Chairman, Mosimi depot, Comrade Dele Tajudeen, made the request during a meeting of the association at Mosimi, Sagamu, Ogun State.
He told reporters that while premium motor spirit (PMS) – petrol – is available at the depot and is distributed to the members’ filling stations, kerosene and diesel don’t get to the depots.
He said the absence of storage facilities for kerosene at Atlas Cove makes it impossible for the product to be transported to Mosimi depot for distribution.
Tajudeen also said the association was not opposed to deregulation of petroleum product but before then, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) must be passed to ensure a level playing ground for stakeholders.
Tajudeen, while reacting to the allegation of misappropriated N500 million by IPMAN, said the allegation was baseless. “The association did not make N500million in turnover and there is no way it could have been misappropriated. Although they did not have legal standing to have access to our account, where did they get such figures? We will sue them for libel if they cannot substantiate their claims with evidence.”
A faction of IPMAN led by Adeleke Dada alleged that the Dele Tajudeen-led faction misappropriated N500 million belonging to the IPMAN.
Dada said: “They misappropriated about N500million during their tenure because they made about N10 million per month from all of the unnecessary levies, which were illegal collections, and which were not accounted for.
“During the period of fuel scarcity, the government did not increase the price of petroleum, it was their administration that increased the price in their own capacity to the rate of N110 per litre, which is very wrong, the government didn’t tell them to increase it.
“We had enough of the product in Mosimi depot, so, whenever there is scarcity, they used that opportunity to hike fuel price so as to enrich their pockets, which was not good on the masses. We are going to call on the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe them because they embezzled the unnecessary levies that were paid to them.”
However, Tajudeen said the meeting was to sensitise the members on the forthcoming election scheduled to hold on October 15, having been elected into office in 2010.
He said all parties are invited to participate in the election to move the association forward.
Source : energy mix report
