TheNewsGuru

Tag: IPMAN

  • IPMAN reveals plans to monitor integrity of fuel pumps at petrol stations

    IPMAN reveals plans to monitor integrity of fuel pumps at petrol stations

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says it plans to safeguard fuel pump integrity at filling stations by tackling cheating and related malpractices.

    Chairman of IPMAN Enugu Unit, Chief Chinedu Anyaso, disclosed this on Sunday in Enugu shortly after the association’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

    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.

    Anyaso said members unanimously agreed at the AGM to uphold the integrity of fuel pumps to ensure Nigerians received value for their money.

    He stressed that IPMAN was committed to maintaining its reputation for service and product excellence, adding: “IPMAN resolved and planned to set up a task force to ensure compliance of all members to fuel pump integrity.”

    According to him, 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.

    “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,” he said.

    He noted that the association had resolved to be firm in dealing with the menace through its own internal disciplinary mechanism; just as the association eradicated stocking bad fuel.

    The chairman said that IPMAN Enugu Unit also appreciated the strides of various governors and state governments on development especially road and security infrastructure in the unit’s states of coverage.

    “We are encouraged by the governors’ commitment to continue to create a conducive business environment and to ensure smooth road corridors for fuel products to get to all nooks and crannies of the unit,” he said.

    Anyaso noted that the members unanimously agreed that it would again write Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra on the issue of 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,” he said.

    The chairman said that members also resolved to write to Gov. Soludo again on the over N900 million debt owed IPMAN members who supplied diesel for the running of streetlights in the state.

    “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.

    “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.

    “However, we want 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.”

    Anyaso noted that within a few months, eight IPMAN members in Anambra, who were being owed by the state government, had died due to stress and shock from pressure by financial institutions demanding aggressive 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,” he said.

    The chairman noted that members also deliberated on welfare issues, better ways of lifting petrol products and how to participate in the Dangote Direct Sales and Delivery Scheme as well as JEZCO Oil and Gas offer to assist members.

    The meeting also featured presentations by the Federal Inland Revenue Service on electronic tax filing, and by TradeGrid Limited on facilitating petroleum products lifting and installing solar power in fuel stations, among other topics.

  • IPMAN reveals measure to curb petrol tanker accidents

    IPMAN reveals measure to curb petrol tanker accidents

    The Western Zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says tankers will no longer load more than 45,000 litres of the product from October 1.

    The Chairman of the zone, Chief Oyewole Akanni, who disclosed this in an interview in Ibadan on Friday, stated that the measure was adopted in a joint meeting involving IPMAN, the government and other stakeholders, held to reduce the cases of petroleum tanker accidents.

    The stakeholders, he said, are the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and oil marketers.

    “Before now, some tankers carried up to 90,000 or 60,000 litres, which was dangerous. Those big tankers damage our roads, as the trucks are made to carry far more than they were designed for.

    “And when overloaded, they become unstable and fall, causing accidents,” he told NAN.

    Akanni stated that the government had also mandated all tankers to install safety covers that prevent spillage in the event of a crash.

    “With these covers, even if a tanker falls, fuel won’t spill, except if the tank is punctured,” he said.

    He, however, lamented the activities of vandals, who deliberately puncture fallen tankers to steal fuel, describing it as a major challenge.

    The IPMAN chairman also said that PTD discovered that most accidents occurred at night due to fatigue.

    “We have, therefore, instructed drivers not to drive at night. Once it is 7.00 p.m., they must park and continue their journey by 7.00 a.m. the next day, but some still disobey this directive,” he said.

    Akanni assured that IPMAN would continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that tanker-related accidents were minimised.

    He said that the spate of fatalities had triggered federal interventions, calling for stricter regulations, mass education, and enforced safety reforms.

    According to Akanni, the incidents form part of a broader wave of tanker disasters across Nigeria.

    “These are marked by systemic failures, including overloading, poor infrastructure, inadequate enforcement, alongside dangerous public practices like fuel scooping,” he said.

  • IPMAN threatens to hike pump price of fuel

    IPMAN threatens to hike pump price of fuel

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has threatened to hike the price of petroleum at the pump.

    IPMAN made the threat while urging the Lagos State government to reduce the electronic call-up parking fee from N12,500 to N2,500.

    Mr Chinedu Ukadike, IPMAN’s National Publicity Secretary, in an interview with NAN on Tuesday in Lagos, made the appeal.

    Ukadike stated that the appeal is necessary to avert the potential rise in the price of petroleum at the pump.

    Recall that the Lagos government, via the Electronic Call-up Systems Company, recently raised the truck parking fee from N2,500 to N12,500.

    This decision triggered a protest on Monday, during which truck drivers suspended operations, affecting deliveries from Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Seaport.

    Ukadike said stakeholders at a recent meeting unanimously agreed the parking fee should return to N2,500, calling the current rate excessive.

    “The imposed amount is exorbitant and unbearable for marketers. It will inevitably lead to an increase in the pump price of petrol,” Ukadike said.

    He emphasised that the aim of their actions is to ensure stable energy supply and security nationwide.

    Meanwhile, truck operators under the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) also protested along the Lekki-Epe corridor.

    Alh. Yusuf Othman, National President of NARTO, confirmed that loading activities have been temporarily halted in objection to the revised fee.

    “We’ve not declared a strike, only suspended loading at Lekki Port and Dangote Refinery because N12,500 per truck is too high,” he explained.

    Othman added that while they support the electronic call-up system, the associated cost must be fair and sustainable.

    He confirmed that discussions with Lagos State government officials are ongoing to find a reasonable solution.

  • Anambra: Fuel scarcity looms as IPMAN issues 21-day notice

    Anambra: Fuel scarcity looms as IPMAN issues 21-day notice

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to protect operations of marketers in the state from the plague of multiple taxes and harassment by different agents.

    IPMAN which made the call at an emergency general meeting with members in Awka on Wednesday issued a 21-working days notice to shutdown operations if the grouses were not addressed.

    The ultimatum was a unanimous decision of the no fewer than 700 marketers in attendance.

    The meeting was presided over by Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of IPMAN Enugu Community Depot and members of his executive and Chief Linus Mgbakaogu, a national ex officio.

    The marketers said they had an agreement of harmonised revenue agreement approved by Soludo and had been keeping their part of the bargain by paying as and when due.

    They expressed dismay that some local government officials and agencies were coming up with different type of demand notices, arresting members and extorting money from them.

    Anyaso said members were asked by the House of Assembly to produce some operational documents but IPMAN was of the position that only the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency had such powers under the Petroleum Industry Act.

    According to him, marketers agreed on annual fees/levies of N120,000 with the Anambra government which Gov. Soludo approved and we had been complying fully with the terms.

    “But now we have different demand notices general purpose fee, Land Use Charge, fire, Signage, waste management and worse if it is that Local Government Councils are arresting and extorting our members under different guise.

    “We are appealing to Gov. Soludo to protect our members in Anambra, we have an existing agreement, if that is no longer applicable they should sit with us for renegotiation, that is why we are asking that this harassment and extortion should be addressed.

    “So we are giving a 21 days strike notice within which the state government, Local government and marketers would meet for discussion on revenue and we expect that all court cases are withdrawn and all arrested members freed,” he said.

    Anyaso also called on the Federal Government to address the issue of unpaid bridge claims by members in the zube and pay them so they could remain in business.

    Also Chief Linus Mgbakaogu, a national ex officio of IPMAN described the business environment for members in Anambra as hostile.

    According to him, the agreement we reached with other states as we did with Anambra is still subsisting but I do not know why the governor’s order is being disregarded by various agents of state.

    “Mr Governor is our person, the buck stops on his table and we expect that he should protect us,” he said.

    In his speech, Mr Greg Ezeilo, Chairman of the Anambra Internal Revenue Service, blamed the misunderstanding on Local Government chairmen, who wished to assert their autonomy but promised to intervene and ensure that the areas of concern were addressed.

    Ezeilo said Soludo was keen on improving Ease of Business in Anambra and would not condone anything that would jeopardise businesses.

    “I will create environment for, constructive dialogue is held, I am aware you are open to negotiation and I will tell them to come to negotiate with you.

  • IPMAN speaks on opposing fuel price reduction, backs deregulation

    IPMAN speaks on opposing fuel price reduction, backs deregulation

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has distanced itself from claims suggesting that it opposed the recent reduction in Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) prices by Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

    This comes after former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, alleged that IPMAN was protesting against the Federal Government due to the affordability of Dangote and NNPCL fuel.

    Omokri, via  a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday night, noted that  instead of Nigerians protesting high fuel prices, oil marketers were resisting the price cuts that had seen fuel prices drop significantly within weeks.

    “For the first time in Nigeria’s history, IPMAN, the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria, are protesting against the Nigerian government because NNPCL and Dangote Refinery’s fuel is so cheap that their imported fuel is causing them to lose money.

    “Instead of Nigerians protesting high prices, marketers are now railing against low costs. From ₦1,050 to ₦815. Tinubu did it! In just one month, fuel prices have gone down three times,” Omokri wrote

    Reacting, IPMAN’s National Vice President, Hammed Fashola, denied Omokri’s remark, insisting that the association has always supported the full deregulation of the downstream sector.

    Fashola, in a statement released on Sunday, clarified that the alleged report cited by Omokri did not originate from IPMAN and does not represent its stance.

    “Let me first educate the public about these two organizations, IPMAN and PETROAN. IPMAN is an association of independent petroleum marketers in Nigeria. We have been in existence for years and have maintained a long-standing relationship with the government, NNPCL, and Dangote.

    “The said publication is not from IPMAN, and it cannot be from IPMAN because we have always advocated for total deregulation of the downstream sector. We understand the concept of deregulation, along with its benefits and consequences,” he explained

    Fashola further emphasized that fuel price reductions benefit both consumers and marketers, as lower prices reduce the working capital needed for operations.

    He said, “We (IPMAN) are never against the reduction of petroleum product prices in the country, as it brings relief to citizens. Moreover, as marketers, lower prices mean reduced working capital for us as well.”

    He explained that fuel prices in a fully deregulated market are determined by two major factors—exchange rates and global crude oil prices—neither of which are controlled by local refiners or importers.

    “A fixed timeframe or prior notice for price changes, as previously suggested, is impractical in this era of total deregulation due to competition among market players—everyone wants a share of the market,” Fashola added.

    Fashola reiterated that the association’s support for the government’s economic policies, adding that it fully aligns with the federal government’s reform agenda under President Bola Tinubu, including NNPCL and Dangote Refinery’s competitive market structure.

    He added, “IPMAN, as a body, fully supports the government, NNPCL, and Dangote in this phase of total deregulation and subsidy removal. We stand by the federal government’s reform agenda under President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

  • Dangote/NNPCL price war incurring losses for members – IPMAN laments

    Dangote/NNPCL price war incurring losses for members – IPMAN laments

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) has said that the price war between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Petroleum was affecting its members and causing a loss in profit.

    Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman, IPMAN, Enugu Depot Community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states stated this during an interview with journalists in Awka on Friday.

    Anyaso said the price instability in the sector had resulted in highlevel of uncertainty and reduction in investors’ confidence.

    The price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol, sells for between N865 and N950 per litre in Awka.

    He said though the competition has helped in price reduction which was also good for members of the public, the fluctuation in price of PMS arose from competitions between the two giants and not due to variations in the international market.

    According to him, marketers are on the receiving end of this price war between Dangote and NNPCL.

    “Our members are incurring losses because of the unstable environment.

    “For instance, a marketer will buy products from any of them and before leaving the depot, you hear that price of petrol has dropped by about N10 or N20 per litre.

    “The recent drop was that marketers had discussion with one of the companies and without any major changes in the market the other company slashed prices by a wide margin, thereby throwing most of our members into jeopardy.

    “We can no longer project with certainty, paying of loans and salaries are becoming difficult because profitability is no longer guaranteed due to the regular variation in prices,” he said.

    Anyaso said that to restore stability in the market, NNPCL had to go into full time production.

    He called on the Federal Government to revisit the outstanding bridge claim owed marketers as most businesses had packed up while others are struggling to remain due to non payment.

    “For the masses to enjoy the full benefit of deregulation and fair pricing, the two giants have to operate from the same standpoint, NNPCL has to go into full scale production.

    “That is the only way they can compete and also ensure stable market, combination of local product and importation can not guarantee us that, we need to protect marketers and save jobs”.

  • FG to pay bridging claims soon – IPMAN president

    FG to pay bridging claims soon – IPMAN president

    The National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi says the Federal Government has promised to pay the outstanding bridging claims and resolve other issues soon.

    Maigandi said this in a statement issued by Ukadike Chinedu, IPMAN National Publicity Secretary in Abuja on Thursday.

    The chairman, IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum, Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan, had on Monday gave the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) a seven-day ultimatum to pay up the more than N100 billion debt.

    According to him, failure to settle the outstanding claims will result to the shutdown of depots and the withdrawal of services.

    The national president said that the NMDPRA had expressed their commitment to addressing the pending claims and other issues.

    ”We have been in communication with the NMDPRA and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. They have expressed their commitment to addressing these pending claims and other issues.

    ”In the meantime, we kindly implore all members to remain calm and patient as we work towards securing the necessary approvals and payments.

    ”We understand the importance of these claims to you and appreciate your understanding during this process.

    ”We also encourage all members to refrain from any actions that may disrupt our collective efforts, including strike actions.

    ”Our upcoming official meeting with the NMDPRA will be a critical opportunity to discuss these matters further, and your participation will be invaluable,” Maigandi said.

  • NMDPRA sends strong warning to petrol marketers over sharp practices

    NMDPRA sends strong warning to petrol marketers over sharp practices

    The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sent a strong warning to members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports NMDPRA sent the strong warning to IPMAN members, especially those in Ogun State, over sharp practices being perpetrated by the petrol marketers.

    The authority listed some of the sharp practices to include  infractions such as pump under-dispensing and operating without approval.

    The authority also threatened to begin shutting down stations without valid permits from March.

    The State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Mr Akinyemi Atilola, issued the warning during a special enlightenment and stakeholders’ engagement with the IPMAN executives, Mosimi branch.

    Atilola underscored the need for customers to get value for their money, declaring that a penalty would be meted out to erring stations according to the number of fuel pumps sealed.

    “I am not a vanguard of using money as a consequence or correctional measure, rather it should be the last employment of consequence management.

    “However, as I came here, I found out that many of the under-dispensing were just based on per location, per station, per plant.

    “This means that if I close down your station because you are under-dispensing, and I decommission your pumps, it’s only N100,000 you come here to pay. No, that’s not what is going to happen now.

    “You will pay according to the number of pumps that have been sealed. So, if five of your pumps are being decommissioned, you are paying N500,000 because the law says N100,000 per pump.

    “As an executive of IPMAN, please tell your members to work on their calibration, it’s value for money. Make sure 10 litres is 10 litres,” he said.

    He also warned against delay in the renewal of permits, use of consultants by IPMAN members as well as what he described as poor housekeeping.

    Atitola told the IPMAN executives that implementation of  the latest directive on the truck loading capacity exceeding 60,000 litres would begin from March 1.

    “NMDPRA is an enabler of businesses and not a killer, the authority remains committed to driving the five cardinal points of the present administration.

    “The five cardinal points of the federal government are that the government wants to see the growth in SMEs, they want to see that there is eradication of poverty in the land.

    “They want to see that a lot of people are being employed. The use of gas for expansion and utilisation and the growth of our industries.

    “Those are the five cardinal points of this administration and we have to follow suit,” he said.

    The IPMAN executive members, led by the Chairman, Chief Salimon Ajayi, applauded the authority for organising the stakeholders’ engagement.

    He assured the authority of the members’ cooperation to ensure security of fuel supply.

    “We will cooperate with you, and stand by you to succeed,” Ajayi said.

  • Real reason IPMAN wants to halt operations

    Real reason IPMAN wants to halt operations

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has threatened to shut down operations if the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) fails to pay an outstanding N100 billion bridging claims.

    The Gombe Depot Chairman of IPMAN, Alhaji Abdul Ibrahim, made the position of the association known at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

    “One year after our last demand  requesting the payment of more than N100 billion owed to our members in bridging claims, the management of the NMDPRA has ignored our demand,” he said.

    Ibrahim said that members of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) mentioned the same IPMAN bridging claims as part of their demands before the strike action would be called off.

    He said that NMDPRA promised to offset the bridging claims within 40 days.

    “40 days have today become months with no hope of our payment.

    “The nine northern depots comprising of Jos, Gusau,, Suleja, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Yola and Maiduguri depots have become completely grounded over this lingering debt.

    “This debts being owed to us are monies belonging to marketers and which were deducted from us at the point of payments for products, in order to settle our bridging allowances.

    “We have also continued to record deaths of our members, closure of their businesses, retrenchment of staff and the take-over of their business premises by the commercial banks.

    “These are all arising from this refusal of the NMDPRA to pay us our monies,” he said.

    Ibrahim said that IPMAN was giving the NMDPRA seven days to make the payment.

    “As law-abiding Nigerians, we sincerely believe that we have given the NMDPRA enough time to pay us our monies in bulk and clear the bridging claims.

    “But in view of their constant refusal, we have therefore decided to liaise with our sister organisations, the Petroleum Tankers Driver (PTD) and NARTO in order to take a collective action in due course.

    “As members of IPMAN, it is important to state that we also own sizeable numbers of the PTD, and we may be forced to withdraw our tankers from loading petroleum products,” he said.

    He said that another worrisome development was the alleged NMDPRA’s imposition of several abnormal levies on its members.

    “NMDPRA has made things very difficult for us, as they have also subjected our members to paying bizarre levies whenever we deem it fit to renovate our petrol outlets.

    “There are many distressing levies they have forced on us that are not only anti-developmental, but also unconstitutional and we are demanding their immediate suspension,’’ he said.

    The IPMAN chairman called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the prolonged disputes between IPMAN and NMDPRA.

  • IPMAN opens up on recent petrol price hike

    IPMAN opens up on recent petrol price hike

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged Nigerians not to panic with the news of increase in the price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    The National President, IPMAN, Alhaji Abubakar Shettima, disclosed this on Monday in Ibadan at the inauguration of the Ultra Modern Secretariat of IPMAN Western Zone.

    According to him, members of the association would continue to serve the masses and sell the product at the lowest rate to Nigerians.

    “Despite the news that has been circulating, the masses should not panic. We, the independent marketers, are ready to serve them with lower rates of the petroleum products,” Shettima said.

    While congratulating the Zonal Chairman, Dele Tajudeen and National Executive Committee of IPMAN Western Zone, Shetima said they had done well for being the first to inaugurate such a project throughout Nigeria.

    “I wish them success in their future endeavours,” he said.

    Also, Chairman, Board of Trustees, IPMAN, Aminu AbdulKadri, said Southwest has performed, urging other zones to take a cue from them.

    He said “the Southwest has always been setting the pace. I hope they will continue to maintain this very best flag in the Southwest.”

    Earlier in his address, the Zonal Chairman IPMAN Western Zone, Alhaji Dele Tajudeen said the inauguration of the IPMAN Western Zone Secretariat was a dream come true.

    “Today, I stand before God and men to present the labour and sacrifice of my executives.

    “When we assumed office in 2020, we inherited an association that was facing so many crises which include the depot crisis, finance and banking matters crisis, court cases and so on.

    “But today, to the glory of God, we are crises free in the Western Zone,” Tajudeen said.

    He noted the contributions of the regimes of past administration and other members of the association for the great feat achieved as well as for peace and progress in the zone.

    “When we resumed, we were concerned with the way zonal properties were being moved from depot to depot by the various Zonal Chairmen occupying the office.

    “This led to the loss of many documents and items. So, we resolved that from the little sums realized as IPMAN levies, we will get a good Secretariat for the association.

    Tajudeen recognised and appreciated the leadership of Petroleum Tankers Drivers of NUPENG particularly the Western Zonal Council citing the robust relationship that existed  between them.

    “Words cannot describe how happy we are with the robust relationship we enjoyed with you,” he said.

    The event was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life including royal fathers and members of other associations in the petroleum industry in Nigeria.