Inter and intra-city transport fares have surged by over 200% in Akwa Ibom State following the closure of petrol stations by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
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The increase, which took effect on Tuesday, has seen fuel prices rise to between N2,000 and N2,500 per litre.
According to reports from LEADERSHIP, the shutdown was prompted by IPMAN’s decision to protest the seizure of petrol-laden trucks by the Joint Task Force (JTF) four months ago.
IPMAN’s Chairman of the Coordinating Committee, Comrade Francis Udoyen, and Secretary Prince Ekom Idemudo, confirmed that the union’s members joined in solidarity to demand the release of the trucks.
The significant hike in transportation costs has caused widespread concern among residents, affecting commuters and businesses reliant on transportation.
The directive for the members to down tools was contained in a statement tagged, ‘Notice of Withdrawal of Services Over Confiscation of PMS – Loaded Trucks by JTF Personnel.’
It reads, “As part of our obligation to stand for each other in season and off seasons, equally drawing strength from the resolution taken at the last emergency congress over members’ trucks in the custody of the JTF operatives for four months now, you are hereby directed to close your filling stations from the public with effect from Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
“This action has the approval of our national office, and non-compliance will be visited with appropriate consequences.”
Responding to the development, Chairman, Natural Oil and Gas Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) in the state, Comrade Sam Osung, described IPMAN’s action as criminal, blaming the government for refusing to wield the big stick against alleged perpetrators of criminalities in the sector.
Osung recalled that men of Operation Delta Safe (ODS), led by the 2 Brigade arrested 2 trucks of PMS and 44 drums of petrol from 6 filling stations at Ibaka, in Mbo local government area over four months ago.
He explained that, “The filling stations were accused of being involved in petroleum products smuggling.
“The officials of IPMAN addressed a press conference demanding the immediate release of the trucks, subsequently they shut down their filling stations and embarked on a protest in Oron LGA.
“The ODS led by the Army decided that if the owners considered themselves innocent they should go to court. We know that smuggling is an act of economic sabotage and an innocent marketer should have gone to court to prove his innocence.”
He added that the marketers were trying to bully the Army to release their trucks without proving their innocence, noting that the marketers had hired the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTDs), to stop petroleum products from entering Akwa Ibom since last week Monday.
“The army were informed and they want to rescue the impounded trucks and escorted the trucks to the owners, while requesting the documents authorising them to stop tankers from entering any state.
“The government is aware, and no one is addressing this; the government should say something. The government should act as government,” he stressed.
“They did it before with allegation that I was their problem because I know what they know, I know who they know, and I even know their rights based on their constitution. They ganged up and the governor fired me.
“That didn’t solve the problem. I wish the government was able to address the matter based on the right and privileges of everyone who was involved; the government was more interested in making me the scapegoat,” said Osung who was a former aide to Governor Umo Eno.
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