By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The national leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has distanced itself from a planned strike by its Western Zone, insisting that only the National Executive Council (NEC) has the constitutional power to declare such action.
In a statement on Sunday, National Ex-Officio Douglas Iyike said the strike directive issued by the Western Zone over Dangote Refinery’s decision to deploy its own trucks was unauthorized and should be disregarded by members.
Iyike explained that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) permits private refinery owners like Dangote to own trucks and retail outlets, stressing that the refinery’s move would ease marketers’ burden by cutting out multiple levies charged by petroleum tanker drivers.
He added that the refinery’s system of allowing products on credit would revive struggling marketers, create jobs, and stabilize the downstream sector.
“IPMAN nationwide is solidly behind the Dangote Refinery, and we will not allow a few individuals to truncate this development,” Iyike declared.
The association therefore urged marketers to continue their normal business operations, assuring that the Dangote initiative was in the collective interest of both the industry and the public.