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JOE EFFIONG, UYO
The personality clash between the members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) , Akwa Ibom State chapter and National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA) has resulted in fuel scarcity thus pushing the price of petrol to N1700 per litre.
Most service stations in the state, especially in the state capital and its environs have been shut down on the orders of IPMAN.
The state secretary of IPMAN, Ekom Udoh had told newsmen that they decided to go on strike because five of their tankers with petroleum products worth millions of naira have been impounded by National Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA); adding all efforts to secure the release of the trucks have failed hence they decided to embark on the strike.
Udoh alleged that in addition to impounding their trucks containing petroleum products which he said could go up in flames due to poor handling, IPMAN members were being subjected to extortion.
He said though the matter had been reported to security agencies , nothing had been done to release the trucks impounded by NOGASA adding that it could not understand why NOGASA should be operating in AKwa Ibom State.
He denied that the strike which took effect today has been called off, maintaining that petrol outlets would remain shut until their impounded trucks are released.
Daily investigations revealed that following the strike, transport fare in the state has gone up astronomically while blackmarters capitalise on the situation to noe sell petrol between N1500 and N1700 per litre by the road sides.
But Sam Osung, chairman of NOGASA denied extorting money from IPMAN and impounding their trucks adding that all tankers do not belong to IPMAN as other major marketers also own trucks.
He however did not clarify the owners of the trucks impounded, if any.
He lauded the efforts of Governor Umo Eno for stepping in to resolve the crisis adding that IPMAN lacks the powers to question the operations of NOGASA
But reacting to the IPMAN strike which has adversely affected the already fragile economy of the state, Governor Umo Eno, was said to have called a meeting with some stakeholders in the petroleum marketing sector with a view to resolving the impasse.
A press release signed by Ekerete Udoh, chief press secretary to the governor and captioned: Fuel Scarcity to End Shortly; said: Ïn response to the fuel scarcity which began this morning arising from a misunderstanding between the product marketers and some security agencies, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno is currently meeting with different groups within the petroleum marketing sector with a view to finding solutions to the immediate and remote causes of this problem.
“The public is assured that normalcy will return as soon as possible.” The release said. ENDS
