Fuel Scarcity Looms as Edo IPMAN Threatens Strike over Bad Roads

*Wants state govt to carry out palliative repairs on bad roads

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Edo State Branch, has threatened to suspend sales of petroleum products across the state over the deplorable state of roads in the state.

The Union in its letter dated Monday, September 25, 2023, and addressed to state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to carryout emergency repair on the failed portion of the roads
They listed the roads to include Benin/Agbor Road, Benin/Sapele Road, the Sapele Road end of the Benin bypass, all the way to Lagos Road end of the expressway as well as the Benin-Auchi Express Road.

The letter signed by union’s Chairman, Alhaji: Abdulhamad Baba Saliu and others, titled, “Notice of Intention to Shut Down Sales of All Petroleum Products in Edo State Due to the Bad Roads in Edo State,” read in part: “As law abiding citizens who pay their taxes to the state government, we write that the huge financial losses, we do suffer as a result of bad roads in Edo State is taking a huge toll on our business.

“We are by this letter notifying Your Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki of our intentions and also as responsible citizens to make you understand why we have to take this step.

“That failure of the Edo State Government to carry out palliative repairs on the said roads stated above within seven days of this letter being served, all members and all petroleum marketers in Edo State will be forced to suspend sales of all petroleum products in Edo State until the roads are repaired.”W