IPMAN To Suspend Sales Of Fuel In Kwara State

Kwara State Chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has hinted on possible suspension of petrol sales in the state.

IPMAN State Chairman, Abdullateef Kamaja, while addressing Pressmen on Friday said that the Customers Express Payment Policy, as introduced by the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, is not in favour of the association.

He added that relevant stakeholders were not duly consulted before rolling out the policy.

He said, “The implementation was also so sudden that no marketer could have made any effort to comply with NNPC guidelines. This to us, is viewed as a means to paralyse IPMAN members’ efforts to contribute to national economic development.

“Before the introduction of the present policy there had been many paid tickets from marketers running to billions of Naira in the coffers of the NNPC which were not attended to.

“Several factors like network failure and inability of marketers to have code payment militated against the former procedure.

“It is hereby wished that the current directive is abrogated pending a proper consultation and deliberation with marketers.”

The policy, according to him, directed petrol marketers to provide Bulk Purchase Agreement renewal, adding that the process had a high procurement cost with bureaucratic bottlenecks.

He said, “It is imperative for the NNPC to always consult with the marketers before bringing up any policy as this will ensure harmonious and peaceful relationship between her and the marketers who act as the bridge to the consuming masses.

“If our herein stated suggestions are not met we may have no option than to down tools by closing down our stations.”