From Uchenna Ezeadigwe,
Awka
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Enugu depot community has given the Anambra government a 14-working-day notice to fulfill its own part of the agreement between them or face shutdown by marketers in the state.
The ultimatum was contained in a two-page pre-action notice signed by the chairman and secretary, IPMAN Enugu Depot, Mr. Chinedu Anyaso and Mr. Oliver Ekwueme respectively to Gov. Willie Obiano.
Anyaso who made the letter available to journalists in Awka on Wednesday said copies had been submitted to police, Director of State Services, NSCDC and other security agencies in the state. The association said the notice took effect from March and would elapse first week of April.
IPMAN frowned at the delay of the state government to pay one of its members, Siluch Oil and Gas, the sum of N13.5 million for Automotive Gas Oil he supplied to it through the Transport Company of Anambra since 2017.
The marketers also expressed displeasure over the refusal to provide the necessary document for a parcel of land it allocated to them for Petroleum Tankers Park in the state as contained in the MoU they entered in August last year.
According to IPMAN, in line with our previous letters which gave rise to an elaborate meeting between the government and representatives of IPMAN which yielded a joint communiqué dated Aug.4 with Ref. No. ANS/SSG/M.4301/T.1/105. “We most humbly state that we are deeply worried over what appears to be an intentional renege on your promise to off-set the debt worth of N13,570, 175 being the value of AGO our member, Siluch Oil & Gas Ltd supplied to your government.
Reacting, Special Adviser to Obiano on NUPENG Petroleum and Union Matters, Chief Peter Nwosu, said government had received the letter and was working to avert the threat by IPMAN. He said Obiano had given approval for the land but they were waiting for Ministry of Lands to make it available with necessary documentation while the Ministry of Transport was handling the indebtedness to Siluch Oil Ltd.
It would be recalled that IPMAN had threatened to shut down operations in Anambra over the issues on two occasions in 2020 but were prevailed upon to shelve the action by Anambra government which promised to address their demands.
