Oti accused some tanker drivers of involvenent in oil theft in the country, adding that they frustrate efforts of the government and other stakeholders to tackle the issue.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called on the Federal Government to prune the powers of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) to order to create stability in the downstream sector.
This appeal was made by the Zonal Secretary, IPMAN, South East Zone, Mr Anicho Oti, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, September 8, 2022, in Lagos.
He said it has become important to put a limit to the powers of the drivers who hold the sector hostage by threatening strikes at every opportunity.
Oti accused some tanker drivers of involvenent in oil theft in the country, adding that they frustrate efforts of the government and other stakeholders to tackle the issue.
“We are appealing to the government to call the tanker drivers to order because they are disrupting the relative peace being enjoyed in the industry,” he stated.
Oti added: “For instance, they have been collecting IPMAN trip levies at all the petroleum depots but have refused to remit same to us.
“In Port Harcourt alone, they have collected about N89 million between May and July this year, which they are withholding and when we insisted on being paid, they are threatening to down tools.
“They are also collecting the N5,000 per truck stakeholders levy which is supposed to be shared among all stakeholders but they have refused to release the money.
“We set up a monitoring unit and from our investigation so far, it was discovered that some of them were carrying adulterated products and products from illegal refineries.
“When they are caught, they are protected by some of their members with threat of going on strike.”
He, therefore, urged the government and other stakeholders to bring the perpetrators of the nefarious activities to justice, while commending efforts made so far to address them.
The IPMAN Zonal Secretary assured of their continued support to the government and other critical stakeholders in ensuring the smooth distribution of petroleum products across the country.