Governor Ugwuanyi charges IPMAN to live up to expectation

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has charged the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN, Enugu State Branch, to redouble its efforts towards ensuring the availability and distribution of quality petroleum products in the state to satisfy the yearning of the people.

Governor Ugwuanyi made the charge while addressing the state executive of the body that paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Enugu.

The governor explained that the charge had become necessary in view of the need to stabilize the market price of petroleum products in the state and grantee quality services.

Governor Ugwuanyi during the meeting, frowned at some of the sharp practices observed and embarked upon by some of the members of IPMAN in the areas of constant adjustment of their meters, internal and external diversion of petroleum products as well as adulterated gas that would cause problems to consumers.

Others include lifting of petroleum products to fictitious and non-existing filling stations as well as their endemic culture and notorious collaboration with NNPC officials and some of the federal governments staff to fast track their ugly desire to the detriment of the masses.

He charged the body to operate in line with the laid down rules and the law that established their businesses by curtailing some of these negative activities, pointing out that, government only partners and collaborates with genuine bodies and organizations put in place to better the lots of the people through undiluted services.

According the governor, some of their challenges in the areas of using traditional rulers and security agents to prevent and curtail oil pipeline vandalization, harassment of members by security agents, provision of vehicles and land and the assistance of the state government in sourcing of petroleum products in various depots nation-wide would be looked into for solution

He expressed appreciation to the body for its continued support to his administration, especially during the last general election and re-assured it of the commitment of the state government to continue to partner with it to serve the people selflessly.

Earlier in an address, the Chairman of IPMAN Enugu State Branch, Chief Ikechukwu Nwankwo thanked the governor for his open door policy and development strides in the state and called on him to intervene in some of the issues affecting the smooth operation of the body in the state.

Chief Nwankwo assured the governor of their resolve to improve on their services towards the distribution of quality petroleum products in the state, promising to cooperate with his administration to provide more dividends of democracy to the people.