The authentic National President of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chief Dr. Kolawole Adewoyin has urged the incoming government of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to engage in full deregulation of the petroleum sector until all local refineries in the country are fully working.
Chief Adewoyin in a press statement stated that full deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry without ensuring that all local refineries are working will be catastrophic for the country.
He also called incoming President to encourage more individuals to build modular refineries, saying partial deregulation should be encouraged.
The IPMAN authentic President, Chief Adewoyin also speaks on Dangote Refinery, NUPENG, NMDPRA, IPMAN, Marketers and so on.
DANGOTE REFINERY
While speaking on Dangote refinery, Chief Adewoyin congratulated Aliko Dangote for the commissioning of the project.
“I use this medium to congratulate Aliko Dangote for the inauguration of his refinery. He should ensure that 50% of the product is for Nigerians because the refinery belongs to the Nigerians.”
“The loan he took to fund the project affected our economy and all Nigerians. That is why he must make sure that he puts the interest of Nigerians at heart before any other thing.”
ON NUPENG
Speaking on the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Adewoyin urged the Union to work with the incoming government on ways of maintaining cordial relationship without resorting to industrial action.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to the leadership of NUPENG to cooperate with the incoming government. They should encourage consultation in order to settle amicably any issue that could come up without recourse to strikes. The incoming government too should engage in consultation with NUPENG on how best to work together for the interest of the Nigerians and to discourage incessant strikes.”
ON NIGERIA MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM PETROLEUM REGULATORY AUTHORITY (NMDPRA)
The IPMAN authentic National President, Chief Adewoyin also urged the Nigeria Midstream And Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to cooperate with independent marketers and also look into stringent conditions that are being given to members of IPMAN.
“NMDPRA should also consider our members in policy formation. Many of the new policies introduced by the body are not in the interest of our members. The NMDPRA should know that we are equally stakeholders in the oil industry. It is what we buy that we sell. They should endeavour to be lenient with our members.”
“We are also appealing to NMDPRA on the issue of license to fuel marketers. The June 1, 2023 deadline by the regulatory body should be re-visited. The amount is too much and many of our members cannot afford it. Many of our members have not been able to load due to the high-handedness of NMDPRA. IPMAN under my leadership will continue to seek better working conditions for our members.
ON IPMAN LEADERSHIP
Speaking on the leadership of IPMAN, Chief Adewoyin stated that he is the authentic National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and that Alhaji Engineer Sanusi Abdul-Fari, Alhaji Debo Ahmed and the Registered Trustees of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and any other person laying claim to the position of IPMAN National President are acting illegally.
Chief Adewoyin who condemned attempt by Fari group to elongate their tenure in office and seeking judicial backing to their act of illegality, said it is now over for them.
Explaining further, Adewoyin stated that by the Judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division, in Suit No: FHC/IB/CS/26/2020 delivered on the 18th November 2020, he was ordered to take over as the National President of IPMAN in accordance with the 1997 of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Associations of
Nigeria’s Constitution but the Fari led illegal group appealed against the said Judgment to the Court of Appeal and filed an Application for Injunction pending appeal to deny him the fruits of the judgment.
“Despite the fact that the tenure of Fari had expired since 21st March, 2020, he continued to stay in office, relying on the Appeal filed against the Judgment and application for Injunction pending Appeal.
He stressed further that while the Appeal was pending at the court of Appeal, Fari in a bid to render nugatory the outcome of the appeal and created more crisis swore-in Debo Ahmed as the new National President on the 18th January, 2022 at NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.
The court of Appeal, Ibadan division, on 5th August, 2022, dismissed their Appeal and re-affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court.
According to him, the Fari-led group have forgotten that the judiciary is the last hope of common man.
He however used this medium to call on leadeship of NUPENG, Inspector General of Police, members of the press, Dangote refinery and every stakeholder in the oil industry not to recognise Debo Ahmed or any other person laying claim to the position of IPMAN National President, other than him, saying doing so will amount to supporting illegality.”