BENIN CITY – The Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Benin Depot, Comrade Douglas Iyike has said that the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has no right to give directive to IPMAN to reverse to N165 per litre of petrol.
Recall that NUPENG in a recent media statement gave 24-hour ultimatum to IPMAN members to revert to the official pump price of petrol hence they will down tool.
But in a swift reaction by the Benin Depot Chairman, Comrade Iyike averred that NUPENG as a union has no power to take over the duties of regulatory agencies in the petroleum sector.
He disclosed that the recent increment is due to the hike in ex-depot price of petrol which according to him is the area NUPENG should direct its threat to rather than directing same at marketers.
“We have read in newspapers with great disdain the purported 24-hours notice issued to marketers regarding the increment in the pump price of petrol.
“We want to place it on record that the increment is not due to any fault of oil marketers because we can only sell based on the price at which we buy petrol from the depots.
” There has been increment in the ex-depot price which has left marketers with no option than to increase the pump price of petrol above the official N165 per litre in recent weeks.
“We believe that addressing the issue of the ex-depot price should be the focus of NUPENG and not attempting to picket petroleum stations which might lead to a breakdown of law and order,” he advised.
The Benin Depot IPMAN Chairman however, urged NUPENG to channel its energy to the activities of some of its members whom he alleged engaged in reckless driving, illegal charges and diversion of petroleum products, instead.
“Just recently, the NSCDC arrested about four (4) trucks from different beats where they are refining illegal products; where they are doing product adulteration, the NSCDC arrested them. So these trucks belong to who?
“What about the incedent that happened at IKPOBA Hill axis close to the NNPC depot where the NSCDC arrested a truck belonging to NUPENG where they were doing abdication of petroleum products?, he alleged
