Independent Petroleum Marketers (IPMAN) in Niger State have expressed concerns over extortion at various private petroleum depots across the country and are urging the federal government to investigate the issue, particularly regarding tanker drivers.
Alhaji Abdullahi Dan-Min, a marketer in Niger State and Director of First El-Shaba Nigeria Limited, revealed in an interview in Minna that the price disparity between petroleum sold by independent marketers and major marketers is largely due to taxes imposed at the depots.
Dan-Min noted that while independent marketers are purchasing petrol at prices exceeding N900 per litre from private depots, major marketers buy at approximately N800 per litre from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC). He lamented that independent marketers often end up paying more than the retail price set by major marketers.
He explained that despite raising these concerns with the leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Minna, including Zonal and Unit Chairman Alhaji Abubakar Dakingari, no action has been taken. Dan-Min alleged a possible conspiracy with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTDA), which he claims is exacerbating the situation and increasing the hardship faced by citizens.
Dan-Min accused the PTDA of extorting between N100 and N200 per litre from each tanker before loading at depots in Lagos and Warri. He pointed out that these payments, made without receipts, are similar to practices seen during periods of product scarcity. He explained that a 45,000-litre tank could incur an additional cost of N45,000, depending on the size of the vehicle.
Similarly, Alhaji Babangida, an IPMAN representative at Lagos depots, confirmed the extortion issue during a telephone interview from Minna. He called for urgent government intervention to address the problem.
When contacted for a response, Abubakar Malu, the National Deputy President of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), claimed he was unaware of the extortion activities at the depots. He suggested that the complainants should investigate further to identify those responsible for the alleged misconduct.
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