TheCable

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Ogun chapter, has threatened to shutdown all its outlets across the state if the Department of State Security (DSS) fails to reverse its threat to clampdown on its members.

Last week, the DSS had given the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and oil marketers a 48-hour ultimatum to make petrol available across the country.

Reacting to the ultimatum on Wednesday, IPMAN, in a statement signed by Femi Adelaja, Ogun chairman, said the security agency failed to reason with genuine business operators who could not obtain products from government depots and sell them at government-approved prices.

Adelaja said the security officials should rather go after those who are making supplies difficult for IPMAN members.

He described the DSS’ stance on petrol scarcity as a “ploy by a government agency that had failed in its statutory responsibility”.

“Rather than for the security operatives to go after those who are making supplies difficult for IPMAN members, they have chosen the path of dishonour by threatening to go after IPMAN members, whose businesses survive on loans and other credit facilities provided by commercial banks at a not-too-friendly interest rate,” the statement reads.

“If any of the law enforcing agencies in Nigeria is genuinely concerned about the security of the country, they should go after the NNPCL officials and ensure that they make the product available for independent marketers at the already agreed price and desist from the unnecessary ranting of a wounded lion.”

IPMAN, however, warned that “should the DSS fail to reverse its position and apologise to the peace-loving members of the Nigerian society, whose psyche was affected by its earlier statement, we would be left with no alternative than to close all our outlets across Ogun state”.

Meanwhile, at a meeting with the DSS last week, stakeholders agreed to find a lasting solution to the protracted petrol scarcity in the country.

The stakeholders included the NNPC, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).