IPMAN PRESIDENT ON IPMAN/NIPCO RELATIONS
The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers
Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Engr Olatunde Runsewe has
asserted that NIPCO Plc remained the most reliable fuel terminal
to its members across the nooks and crannies of the country.
Making the assertion in Abuja at the just concluded 3rd Annual
General Meeting of the company which is the commercial arm of
the Association, Engr Runsewe maintained that since 2001 when
the group mooted the idea of NIPCO, she has been the major
rallying point for product sourcing.
“The company has been a success story so far and the entire
membership of the Association is elated to be associated with
its meteoric rise,” he declared.
Engr. Runsewe who is also a director in the company said IPMAN
is very much concern of some of the problems being encountered
by Independent Marketers from other areas of the country
especially from the East adding that this explains while NIPCO
has stepped up its search for depots outside Lagos to meet the
needs of its members.
According to him, the entire leadership is very much concerned
about the ugly development occasioned by the wanton destruction
of product pipelines across the country.
He enjoined Marketers to be patient with the association as they
are working hand in hand with NIPCO to open up more depots to
satisfy the growing demand for petroleum products.
The IPMAN President denied insinuation in some quarters that the
Association had been used and dumped stressing that there is no
iota of truth in the statement allegedly credited to some
aggrieved members.
Engr.Runsewe maintained that IPMAN is still very much relevant
in NIPCO operations and had not been undermined at any point in
time since it commenced operations in 2004.
He advised those threatening fire and brimstone to sheath their
swords as all the Association and NIPCO needs for now is a
conducive environment to put in motion projects that will not
only protect their investment in the company but also assure
them of products availability at affordable prices.
The IPMAN president stated that the performance of NIPCO since
inception has been very encouraging to the promoters and that
everything humanly possible need be done to make the company
attain greater heights.
In his own reaction, Chief Anthony Okechukwu who is a foremost
independent marketer said making product available to the
myriads of IPMAN members across the country through the
company’s automated terminal in Apapa has blossom the business
of fuel marketing in Nigeria.
Chief Ezekwesili who is the Executive Chairman of Austoma
Enterprises and a shareholder in NIPCO said with take-off of the
company, the rate of exploitation of IPMAN members from some
depot owners had reduced drastically.
He pointed out that the only way this can be sustained is for
government to continue to support the company through adequate
allocations to compliment the direct importation by the company.
While reading this year’s dividend pay out of NI.50k from the
25k of 2005 financials, the IPMAN patron solicited for more
support by all shareholders especially the generality of the
Association members.
“This is not the period for any side talk that could distract
the Association in giving desired support and encouragement to
NIPCO management in the arduous task of ensuring product
availability at all
times to IPMAN members across the country” the IPMAN chieftain
declared
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