Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has charged the Independent
Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN, Enugu State Branch,
to redouble its efforts towards ensuring the availability and
distribution of quality petroleum products in the state to satisfy the
yearning of the people.
Governor Ugwuanyi made the charge while addressing the state executive
of the body that paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Enugu.
The governor explained that the charge had become necessary in view of
the need to stabilize the market price of petroleum products in the
state and grantee quality services.
Governor Ugwuanyi during the meeting, frowned at some of the sharp
practices observed and embarked upon by some of the members of IPMAN
in the areas of constant adjustment of their meters, internal and
external diversion of petroleum products as well as adulterated gas
that would cause problems to consumers.
Others include lifting of petroleum products to fictitious and
non-existing filling stations as well as their endemic culture and
notorious collaboration with NNPC officials and some of the federal
governments staff to fast track their ugly desire to the detriment of
the masses.
He charged the body to operate in line with the laid down rules and
the law that established their businesses by curtailing some of these
negative activities, pointing out that, government only partners and
collaborates with genuine bodies and organizations put in place to
better the lots of the people through undiluted services.
According the governor, some of their challenges in the areas of using
traditional rulers and security agents to prevent and curtail oil pipe
line vandalization, harassment of members by security agents,
provision of vehicles and land and the assistance of the state
government in sourcing of petroleum products in various depots
nation-wide would be looked into for solution
He expressed appreciation to the body for its continued support to his
administration, especially during the last general election and
re-assured it of the commitment of the state government to continue to
partner with it to serve the people selflessly.
Earlier in an address, the Chairman of IPMAN Enugu State Branch, Chief
Ikechukwu Nwankwo thanked the governor for his open door policy and
development strides in the state and called on him to intervene in
some of the issues affecting the smooth operation of the body in the
state.
Chief Nwankwo assured the governor of their resolve to improve on
their services towards the distribution of quality petroleum products
in the state, promising to cooperate with his administration to
provide more dividends of democracy to the people.
