By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
Tension is brewing in the five Southeast states of the country as the leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Imo state government are set for final showdown over the lingering feud that led to the biting fuel scarcity in the state.
Members of the IPMAN said yesterday that they may be forced to join Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) if the lingering disagreement between the State government and operators in the downstream sector is not resolved soon.
Already, the price of petrol has risen to between N170 and N185 per litre as at Sunday evening in parts of Awka the Anambra state capital, and adjoining towns.
Findings by ThisNigeria revealed that some filling stations had run out of stock while others deliberately refused to sell the product awaiting possible further hike.
They called on the Imo state government and other states in the Southeast geo political zone to resolve the crisis as quickly as possible before the conflict throws the entire zone into confusion.
It would be recalled that the Imo state government had engaged IPMAN and PTD members in the state in a row over the demolition of a filling station in Orlu the state in 2017.
IPMAN, Enugu Depot Community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States made its position known in a statement made available to newsmen Monday.
The Depot Unit disclosed it also extends its service to adjoining states of Imo, Abia, Benue, Kogi and Cross River
The Statement which was signed by Chinedu Anyaso and Mr Emeka Iloafor, Chairman and Secretary respectively) of IPMAN Enugu noted that the crisis in Imo was already affecting neighboring states negatively.
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IPMAN said it would join PTD which had withdrawn its services in sympathy while urging other governors in the region to intervene and bring an amicable solution to the Imo government and PTD faceoff.
It said the impasse was capable of throwing the entire Southeast into an energy crisis if not handled carefully.
According to them, “Wish to use this medium to appeal to our governors of Southeast states to intervene in the lingering crises between one of our members in Imo State.”
“The PTD Nupeng and Imo State Government have been at loggerheads and this has led IPMAN members and PTD-NUPENG in Imo State to withdraw their services. PTD has stopped supply of petroleum products to Southeastern States and while IPMAN members have shut their outlets in Imo State.”
“This has adversely affected supply to our members thereby causing scarcity. Your Excellencies, please consider the interest of our people and the economic implications, we are appealing for your immediate intervention,” the group stated”
