New IPMAN Leaders Emerge, Pledge Adequate Fuel Supply

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has elected new national leaders, who have pledged to ensure adequate petroleum products supply during the festive period.

On the sidelines of the event which took place in Abuja, the newly-elected President of the group, Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, said he would work with all independent marketers to create the enabling environment to grow the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

Shettima, who took over the leadership of the association from Chinedu Okoronkwo, said the group would work with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to ensure that its members receive an adequate supply of products during the season.

Other members of the new national executive include:  National Vice President, Hammed Fashola; Secretary, James Terlumun Tor; Assistant Secretary, Suleiman Yakubu and Treasurer, Umar Babakano Aliyu.

Also elected were: The National Organising Secretary, Chief Ben Odjugo; Legal Adviser, Nnanna Oru; Public Relations Officer, Okanlawon Olanrewaju; Financial Secretary, Musa Maikifi (Jr); Auditor, Aminu Adamu and Chief Whip, Alicho Otti.

“We will contact the Group Chief Executive of NNPC to make sure that independent marketers are supplied with all the petroleum products to ensure that we supply all the filling stations,” Maigandi promised in response to the current shutdown of some private filling stations.

The new national leader of IPMAN also called for unity among marketers, stressing that the new executive would work with all independent marketers to create the enabling environment to grow the downstream sector.

“We are ready to key into Mr. President’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) programme in such a way that we are going to see that all our members participate fully in the programme,” he added.

Also speaking, the IPMAN’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Aminu Abdulkadri, who lauded the members of IPMAN for the successful election and handover to a new set of executives, described the event as historical since it marked a peaceful change of leadership. He explained that as the group with the largest number of petrol stations across the country, creating a united front nationally was critical to the growth of the business.