IPMAN lauds NNPC over Ejigbo depot tanks rehabilitation
By Felix Kuyinu
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has commended the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over the ongoing rehabilitation of moribund tank farm at Ejigbo Satellite depot.
Chairman of Ejigbo Depot, Alhaji Ayo Alanamu, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen yesterday.
Alanamu hinted that the rehabilitation was necessary in curbing the various problems facing the availability and easy access to petroleum products, noting that it would boost petroleum distribution to marketers in the western zone as well as addressing loading challenges encountered by marketers.
He also disclosed that the problem of petroleum price has now been put to bed as his members have been selling in accordance with the government’s stipulated price tag while marketers have begun massive loading of products to hinterland from the depot, even as the rehabilitation was still ongoing.
According to him, the development was a huge boost to petroleum distribution across states in the region.
“One of the key focuses of the present administration is to revamp all moribund and abandoned assets and put them back to work for the improvement of petroleum products supply and distribution.
“We commend the efforts of the NNPC under the leadership of Dr. Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director, towards the rehabilitation of our depots,’’ Alanamu said.
There was also some sort of assurance by Alanamu in regards to his fellow IPMAN members partnering with the NNPC in order to ensure the protection of the petroleum product pipelines by curbing incessant vandalism.
The IPMAN boss also commended the corporation for intensifying its efforts to address the shortage of petroleum product in the hinterland.
He further stated that the marketers in the zone were putting all efforts for a massive supply of the products and that independent marketers have been loading with ease.
“The supply of petrol to depots has improved in the western zone and we appeal to NNPC to maintain the importation tempo.
“All depots in the western zone now sell the product at the government regulated price, compared to when petrol was sold above ex-depot prices. The Federal Government has set the pace for steady supply of petrol across the country and this is commendable.’’
