IPMAN kicks against suspension of petroleum products to border communities

The Lagos State Chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has kicked against the suspension of petroleum products supply to fuel stations in border communities.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr. Akin Akinrinade and Secretary, Mr. Akeem Balogun, IPMAN described the decision as punitive and uncalled for, as the fuel stations were never meant to serve people outside the borders.

The body therefore called for the immediate reversal of the order so as not to punish the border communities, the fuel stations owners and the staff working at the stations.

Recall that in a circular to Zonal and Sector Coordinators, Operation Swift Response and area controllers and others, titled: E11/2019 circular No.027: Suspension Of Petroleum Products Supply To Filling Stations Within 20 Kilometers To All Borders, dated November 6, 2019, the Comptroller-General of Customs directed that no petroleum product, no matter the tank size is permitted to be discharged in any filling station within 20 kilometers to the borders.

Reacting to the circular, IPMAN reminded the Customs that the affected fuel stations were established legally and licensed to serve the communities at the border towns and their environs.

The IPMAN pointed out that apart from jeopardising the business interest of the fuel station owners, there are thousands of staff and other stakeholders that will lose their jobs, thus compounding unemployment problem in the country.