The activities of major marketers in diverting and hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol meant for Akwa Ibom has elicited the anger of Nigeria Labour Congress in the state.
Speaking at 2024 Workers Day celebration at Uyo Sports Stadium, the Chairperson of Nigeria Labour Congress, Akwa Ibom Council, Comrade Sunny James is angry with marketers in fuel diversion.
James recapped the recent action of some ‘faceless’ persons in stopping supply of fuel to the state and by IPMAN’s withdrawal of services, an action that exacerbated the economic hardships facing the people.
He blamed the lingering fuel crisis with attendant hunger and suffering on the announcement: fuel subsidy regime is gone by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023 during his inauguration.
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The NLC boss speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration specifically blamed some NNPC Mega stations, Total Fina and major marketers for always diverting their products meant for Akwa Ibom to other states.
‘‘There is an urgent need to form Petroleum Task Force and make NLC one of its members. Last week, some people stood on the roads and arrested petrol tanker drivers. Their action is not known to law. There is diversion of petroleum product in the state. Let me report that the petrol filling station behind Dakkada Secretariat, Uyo and other major marketers are supplied fuel on a weekly basis. Yet, that particular station is not open for business.
‘‘Major marketers such as NNPC Filling stations apart from the one at Itam Junction have been receiving fuel regularly from Calabar depot at NNPC-approved pump price, but they including Total Fina and other major marketers are not selling the product in Akwa Ibom.
‘‘We are wondering why the major marketers are bringing untold hardship to Akwa Ibom people. Please, Your Excellency form Petroleum Task Force and we shall break the cartel. This cartel is bringing bad report to your government and must be dismantled by the task force. We shall report progress to your office.’’
He was unhappy that during the strike on Monday, April 22, 2024, the major marketers shut down their filling stations and the consumers and road users bore the brunt of their action.
Why IPMAN Withdrew services
Recall that on Monday, April 22, commercial bus and tricycle operators in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, increased transport fares as petrol stations shut down business following the withdrawal of services by members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
IPMAN, in a statement on Friday, had announced they would withdraw supply to the state beginning from Monday (today) and directed petrol stations to close their business.
The association directed its members to close their stations against the public “from 6 a.m., on Monday till further notice” in protest against the seizure of products from its members. It blamed the seizure of the products of its members on business infractions allegedly attributable to “the activities of Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA).
The association, in a statement, announced a fine of N300,000 for non-compliance by members.
The statement, which had only “IPMAN chairman” and “IPMAN secretary” as signatories without their giving their names, was dismissed by another petroleum union hours after it was circulated on Facebook.
In a statement dismissing the threats, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) urged residents to disregard the information and urged all retail outlet owners to go about their normal businesses.
“PETROAN will release their enforcement team from Monday to monitor operations of retail outlets and report to Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the necessary security agents for action from any unauthorised persons or groups,” the group said.
Their action resulted in fuel scarcity coupled with fares hike in the state.
However, Governor Umo Eno, during a church service on Sunday, described the group as “faceless” and warned them against obstructing the supply of petroleum products to the state.
In a statement on Monday, Ekerete Udoh, the chief press secretary to the governor, said Mr Eno had directed the commissioner for internal security to mobilise security agents to ensure a free flow of petroleum products all over the state.
“In the wake of the prevailing hardship in the country, if any group believes it can constitute themselves into a nuisance and create additional hardship for the people of the country, and the people of Akwa Ibom, we will confront that group. I don’t care who they belong to, I don’t care who is sponsoring them,” Mr Eno said.
