The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has voiced its strong opposition to the bid by state governments to take over the regulatory role of the downstream petroleum sector in the Southeast region. Chinedu Anyaso, the chairman of IPMAN Enugu Depot, which oversees Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu States, expressed this concern in an interview with journalists in Awka on Sunday.
Anyaso maintained that state governments lacked the necessary standardized and approved equipment to accurately measure the dispensing machines’ accuracy. Additionally, he highlighted that they did not possess the authority to supervise operations within the downstream petroleum sector.
IPMAN firmly criticized the intrusion of marketers’ outlets by state governments, disguised as price enforcement and monitoring of dispensing machines. Anyaso underscored that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) remained the sole constitutionally-empowered body to regulate downstream sector operations. He encouraged states to collaborate with the NMDPRA if they wished to address any concerns.
According to Anyaso, state governments are not authorized to undertake regulatory functions concerning downstream operators because they lack the expertise required for such responsibilities. Furthermore, he pointed out that the seraphim bottles they currently employ are not certified to have undergone proper calibration.
“We condemn the invasion of our filling stations by the Anambra and Enugu State governments. This recent action by the Enugu State government, in particular, is a deliberate attempt to slander some of our members,” Anyaso stated emphatically. He urged governors to rein in these overzealous aides and prevent any confrontations between IPMAN and state governments.
While IPMAN acknowledged that some of its members may be involved in unscrupulous practices, Anyaso stressed the importance of state governments collaborating with the NMDPRA—an agency established by the Federal Government to oversee the sector, should the need arise.
“We are not absolving our members of any wrongdoing, nor are we defending them. All we are advocating for is proper governance by the appropriate authority,” Anyaso clarified. He added that the NMDPRA has offices in almost every state, making it feasible for state governments to work cooperatively with them. IPMAN, on the other hand, has an internal task force to address any infractions committed by its members.
-NAN
