From Ayodele Samuel,Lagos
The National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), MrChineduOkoronkwo yesterday called the Federal Government to develop modern fuel haulage by rail.
Okoronkwo while speaking with newsmen in Lagos yesterday also called on its members to give serious thought to the development of a sustainable model for fuel distribution chain in the country.
While appealing to members to be more proactive toward developing a viable petroleum sector, Okoronkwostress that members needed to be more focused in moving the downstream sector forward rather than continually picking up the gauntlet against themselves.
He urged members to ponder on what the future hold for oil and gas business in Nigeria.
The IPMAN boss called members to shun corruption in the distribution of petroleum products across Nigeria.
He promised that his leadership would be devoid of selfishness and pursuit of parochial interests adding that accountable and efficiency would be his watch word.
He also assured IPMAN members of his readiness to fight and stop the incessant harassment and victimisation of IPMAN members in some of the units and give priority to their welfare.
Okoronkwo however commended the stability and growth in the petroleum sector since the current leadership of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, MrsDiezani Alison-Madueke.
He said that a monitoring team would be inaugurated to ensure conformity in all the IPMAN outlets nationwide.
“When one looks at these achievements by the Minister, one cannot but commend President Goodluck Jonathan for his wisdom in appointing Mrs. Alison-Madueke to the position at this time in our nation’s history.
“Nigerians require leaders with a clear idea of what is required to attract real development to the society.”
He noted that the association had ventured into gas utilisation, saying that most Nigerians had switched from the use of kerosene to gas.
He said that IPMAN would continue to work with PPMC in all the twenty one (21) PPMC Depots across the country in ensuring “seamless product supply to all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.”
Okonkwo said that IPMAN controlled over 85 per cent of Nigeria’s petroleum product retailing a development he said made the association a dominant player in the Nigeria downstream market.
