IPMAN strike: Petrol stations shut in Enugu as PMS rises to N700 per litre

[From CHUKS EZE, Enugu]

The strike embarked upon by members of Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), earlier today, September 17, is already taking its toll on Enugu residents as the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has jerked up to between N500 and N700 per litre, at the black market.

Our correspondent who went round the capital city gathered that all fuel stations were closed on the orders of the national President of IPMAN, Alhaji Sanusi Fari.

The Oracle Today had reported, Thursday, that the national leadership of IPMAN had directed all members to withdraw their services in Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia states, respectively, citing police invasion of the Enugu secretariat of the union as reason for the development.

Apparently, the directive recorded optimum compliance thereby creating a window for black marketers to thrive.

Stranded motorists, especially commercial bus and tricycle operators were seen scrambling to buy petrol in kegs at exorbitant rates ranging from N500 to N700 per litre. This was observed at various locations in the city centre, such as Ogui Junction, Abakpa Junction, New Haven Junction, and parts of Presidential Road among others.

A tricycle (Keke) operator, Kelechi Edeh, who spoke to our correspondent expressed sadness over the development. According to him, he was not interested about who or what had caused the sudden acute scarcity of PMS, adding that his worry was that he had nothing to eat except it he was able to buy some petrol and carry out the day’s operation.  

Reacting to the development, in a chat with our Correspondent, Chairman of IPMAN for Enugu Deport Unit, Chinedu Anyaso, appealed to the general public for understanding, explaining that national body of the union had not issued the strike order in bad fate.

According to him, “IPMAN is just fighting illegality. We are appealing to the good people of Nigeria to be patient with us and help in calling the Nigeria Police and their paymasters to order.

“Nigerians have had enough suffering and suffocation and people, especially custodians of the law, should do everything to avoid being unduly pushed to inflict more hardship on the citizens.

Recall that this medium had earlier reported that a statement from the IPMAN National President pointing out that the strike order had followed an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union after the alleged invasion of their Enugu Secretariat by a team of security operatives who drove out their members.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Police Command in Enugu, PPRO Daniel Ndukwe, had declined comments on ground that he had a meeting to catch up with. That was after he had severally busied calls put forward to him by our correspondent.

He later responded via text message thus: “There was no such invasion of IPMAN Secretariat by Police Operatives of the Command. Instead, we had Detectives from Force CID, Abuja, who came on an investigation trip to serve their officials invitation over a court matter”.

When asked whether he was served any court order or Police invitation by the alleged invading security operatives, the Enugu IPMAN Chairman denied being served any document whatsoever, by the security team.

“Nobody served us any document. We have visited the Department of Security Services, Enugu State Headquarters and they advised not to take laws into our hands and that we should contact the federal authorities,” he said.