The Western Zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria on Wednesday called on its members not to hoard Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, in anticipation of scarcity.
The Chairman of the association in the zone, Olumide Ogunmade, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
Ogunmade described the current scarcity of petrol in the zone as “artificial”, adding that the association had set up a monitoring team to check cases of hoarding of the product by marketers.
He said that although some petroleum products pipelines were vandalised in the area and in other places around the country, it did not lead to scarcity of petrol as being witnessed in the zone.
According to him, it is true that some pipelines were vandalised but they have been repaired and the pumping of products through the pipelines had long resumed.
Ogunmade said: “We have set up team to monitor filling stations and sanction any marketer found hoarding petroleum products.
“It is not everything government should be blamed for.
“Unpatriotic Nigerians should also be sanctioned for their illegalities.
“We should not allow some people to destroy our national resources all in the name of selfish interest.”
Condemning vandalism on oil pipelines, Ogunmade said: “It is a wrong attitude, which all Nigerians have to change.
“I and members of my executive committee were at Ijegun Imore, in Satellite Town, where a pipeline was vandalised.
“I was shocked at the manner the pipelines were vandalised.”
Ogunmade urged the Federal Government to effectively enforce regulations on vandalism of pipelines and other economic crimes.
He said that IPMAN in the zone had been supportive of the fight against pipelines vandalism.
According to him: “We at the level of IPMAN, South West, are doing our best in supporting government to protect the pipeline network within the western zone.
“But, we are constrained due to cash flow, because there is a limit to what we can do.
“If we have adequate resources, we can do more.”
The IPMAN chairman confirmed that the loading of petroleum products had begun at Ejigbo and Mosimi depots, saying that in spite of the vandalism cases, the nation had sufficient stock of oil products.
He cautioned members of the public against any form of hoarding or panic buying of petroleum products in anticipation of scarcity.
Ogunmade added: “The fuel situation in the country is quite stable and there is no cause for alarm.
“The current smooth supply of products has been sustained for a period of two years.”
Trending
- Glo EVC promises company’s support to digital economy
- Hajj 2024: NAHCON tasks Media Team on responsible reportage
- 30 farmers, Islamic cleric killed in brutal attacks
- AltBank, Sterling One Foundation, Foodbank combat hunger, champion education
- Ex-lawmaker petitions EFCC over NCDMB’s investments
- Nigeria will continue to play strategic role in Africa — Tinubu
- Court stops Rivers Assembly Speaker, 24 others from parading themselves as lawmakers
- We’re not afraid to enforce our environmental laws — Lagos