The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has given Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo a 30-day ultimatum to address the demands of marketers in the state or face total shutdown of operations without further notice.
The people of Anambra State woke up yesterday morning to meet filling stations shut as marketers were locked in a meeting, reports Daily Independent.
Rising from the meeting later, the marketers reached this decision after that meeting.
Chairman of IPMAN Enugu Depot Community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States Mr Chinedu Anyaso, who addressed journalists in Awka said the association had made cases which affected members without any response from the governor.
Anyaso said the grievances of marketers in Anambra included the issue of consolidated revenue payable and withdrawal of all litigations against members based on multiple taxation which was not in line with the understanding IPMAN had with Anambra State government.
According to Anyaso, IPMAN has discussed the problem of non-payment of debt amounting to about N900 million owed to contractors who supplied diesel for powering streetlight projects in the state.
He said the demands of the association include restoration of part of the property of Chris Tee Nigeria limited, a marketer at Trans-Nkissi phase 1 along Onitsha-Otuocha road which was destroyed by agents of government.
He said IPMAN would not issue further notice upon the expiration of the deadline before shutting their outlets.
Anyaso thanked Chief Ken Maduako, a patron of the association, Mr Golden Iloh, member of the Anambra State House of Assembly and representative of the Anambra Internal Revenue Service for their intervention and hoped that the Soludo administration would act on their plea to prevent full industrial action.
He commended Governor Soludo for his efforts to make Anambra a peaceful and liveable state while urging him to make the business environment conducive for investors especially marketers.
He pledged positive disposition of the association to continue to support his administration to succeed.
