IPMAN to write Soludo over Anambra’s N900m diesel debt owed to members

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says the Anambra state government owes its members N900 million for diesel supplied over the past year to power streetlights in the state.

Chinedu Anyaso, chairman of IPMAN Enugu unit, spoke on Sunday after the association’s 2025 annual general meeting (AGM) in the state.

The Enugu Unit of IPMAN covers independent petroleum marketers in Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states, as well as parts of Abia, Imo, Kogi and Cross River states.

According to NAN, the IPMAN unit chairman said members have agreed to write once again to Chukwuma Soludo, governor of the state, regarding the outstanding N900 million debt.

Anyaso said the association has chosen to pursue a diplomatic approach, noting that a strike action could drive petrol prices in the state to between N2,000 and N3,000 per litre.

“The Anambra State Government debt has been recurring for the past one year notwithstanding three times official letters and direct appeals to the governor and functionaries of the state concerned. Till now, nothing has been done,” he said.

“We are taking the diplomatic route since we do not want to direct our members to go on strike or stop sales of fuel products, which will further compound the suffering and hardship of ordinary citizens.

“If IPMAN members go on strike, it is clear that a litre of fuel (petrol) might go up to about between N2,000 and N3,000 in the state as well as other attendant negative impacts of such a move.”

Anyaso asked the state government to listen “to our appeal and the pathetic situation of IPMAN members, who had made the supply and currently indebted to financial institutions”.

He said within a few months, eight IPMAN members in Anambra, who were still owed by the state government, “had died due to stress and shock” from pressure by financial institutions demanding loan repayments.

“Some of them, their stations have been taken over by the financial institutions, some closed already and many laid off their staff due to financial incapacitation,” the IPMAN unit head said.

‘IPMAN MEMBERS AGREE TO MAINTAIN INTEGRITY OF FUEL PUMPS’

Anyaso said members, during the AGM, unanimously resolved to maintain the integrity of fuel pumps to guarantee that Nigerians receive full value for their money.

“IPMAN resolved and planned to set up a task force to ensure compliance of all members to fuel pump integrity,” he said.

Anyaso said the task force will be inaugurated in September and will operate through dedicated teams in each state under the unit.

“In order to sanitise the system and ensure that the reputation of IPMAN and our members’ fuel stations are maintained, the members during the AGM unanimously agreed that fuel pump cheating and malpractice must be stopped,” he said.

“IPMAN will set up a daily mandate task force soon, while the association’s members collectively agreed on a heavy monetary fine as well as sanction for any defaulting fuel station owned by any member.”

Anyaso said the association would address the menace firmly through internal disciplinary measures, just as it “stamped out the sale of bad fuel”.

He noted that the members unanimously agreed that it would again write Soludo on the issue of internally generated revenue (IGR) of fuel stations in Anambra.

“We commend him for the discussion so far; however, we are calling all involved to come to a round table and resolve their differences and come to an amicable compromise for the benefit of all,” Anyaso said.

The chairman noted that members also discussed welfare matters, improved methods of lifting petroleum products, and participation in the Dangote refinery’s direct sales and delivery scheme.