The authentic President of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chief Dr, Kolawole Adewoyin has condemned the new levies introduced by Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in the oil industry.
The condemnation came following the new levies introduced last week in the oil industry by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
IPMAN in a press statement signed by its President, Chief Kolawole Adewoyin and IPMAN National SSA to the President (Middle West), Hon Michael Ogiamien condemned the development, saying that the decision of NMDPRA to introduce new levies is callous and capable of destroying the oil industry.
“The action of NMDPRA is callous and tyrannical in nature. IPMAN will not accept any kind of increment. We are all aware of the situation of things in the industry which is not palatable to our members. They should realise that the sector is now privatised with little or no profit for us. This is unacceptable to IPMAN and we are condemning it in strong terms.”
Speaking further, the IPMAN President accused NMDPRA of always introducing policies that are usually at the detriments of stakeholders in the oil industry.
“The leadership of NMDPRA should know that we are a major stakeholder in the oil industry. We will not fold our hands and allow them to push us out of business for their own selfish purposes. The action of NMDPRA has clearly shown their motive which is to frustrate and push us out of business. Previous policies of this agency has sent many of our members out of business and we cannot accept this. NMDPRA must immediately reverse this or else we will call a stakeholders meeting in the oil industry to embark on strike.”
However, new levies from NMDPRA now shows that the license fee for a new petrol station which was formerly N31,500, has been increased to N100,000, while suitability fee cost which was N31,500 before is now N100,000.
Also, leak test which formerly cost N31,500 per tank without consultant charges now attracts N150,000 per tank and about N2 million for renewal of license whether the petrol station is functional or not, as well as other news levies which IPMAN considered to be outrageous.