IPMAN threatens to shut down operations in S’West over 30 arrested tankers in Lagos

By Oluseye Ojo

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the South West Zone has threatened to shut down operations in the zone, if the 30 arrested fuel-laden tankers in Lagos are not released.

Chairman of IPMAN’s Western Zone, Chief Joseph Akanni, during an encounter with journalists in Ibadan on Monday, said the tankers, carrying a combined total of 1,350,000 (1.35million) litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), were arrested early Saturday morning by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASMA) and taken to the agency’s yard in Oshodi.

According to him, each of the tanker carried 45,000 litres of PMS and the product is highly flammable which could cause monumental fire disaster, if care is not taken.

Akanni voiced the association’s grave concerns that an “injury to one is injury to all.” He expressed solidarity with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) as well as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

He explained that the tankers left Dangote Refinery at approximately 3:00am on the day they were arrested. He also raised concerns on the alleged hazards posed by the LASMA’s actions.

“What the Ministry of Transport has done is against the law. It is dangerous to keep tankers with petrol in one location because petrol is flammable.

“The information reaching us is that they have started siphoning petrol from the tankers, which implies that we won’t have the same quantity as when it was towed,” Akanni said.

Akanni drew attention to the legal obligations surrounding fuel transport, asserting that all seized tankers should have been required to offload their cargo before any arrest.

“We will not stand idly by,” he stated, adding, “If nothing is done, we are ready to shut down our petrol stations across the South West in solidarity with the tanker drivers.”

He warned that if there is any fire incident resulting from this situation, the Lagos State Government would be held responsible for both financial and potential loss of lives. “We are giving a stern warning,” Akanni concluded.
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