‘Why we closed our stations’ -IPMAN
By Ime Silas
Indigenes and residents of oil-rich Akwa Ibom State have taken to various social media platforms to vent their anger against the governor; His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno for according to them, not acting as the State’s Chief Executive to end fuel crisis in the State.
The infuriated citizens who were reacting to the scarcity and high cost of petroleum products in the state, described the governor’s silence as a manifestation of “… insensitivity”.
Acknowledging the high cost of petrol in the state, Governor Umo Eno had in his speech to mark the 37th Anniversary celebration of State creation said:
“Let me warn those who are selling petrol above the approved price that the Government will not tolerate such unpatriotic actions. We will soon set up a Task Force to ensure that those engaging in this practice are brought to book”.
As at the time of filing this report, all fueling stations were shut down across the state, while black market operators took advantage of the situation to ripoff the innocent citizens.
One litre of petrol is sold by the black marketers at between N2000 and N2300. In neighboring states like Rivers, Cross River and Abia, fuel is sold averagely at N975, N978 and N985, respectively.
Our correspondents who went round Uyo, the state Capital on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, to monitor the situation reported that most parents and guardians were seen with kids stranded on the roads in the morning hours while trying to drop off their wards in schools.
There was also a heavy downpour on Tuesday which started at about 1:56pm, raining till about 4:30pm, thereby compounding the already worsened situation for school children returning from schools.
While the high cost and scarcity of fuel led to drastic reduction of tricycles and mini busses on the roads being the only available and commonly used means of intra-city public transportation approved by the State government; few who were operating had increased their fares by over 200%.
On the cause of the fuel crisis, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said they directed their members to close their stations from the public due to the impounding of trucks of petroleum products of their members by personnel of the JTF at Ibaka in Mbo LGA of the State.
In a ‘Notice of withdrawal of service’ dated 23rd September, 2024, signed by Chairman and Secretary; Comrade Francis Udoyen and Prince Ekom Idemudo, respectively, IPMAN warned its members against non-compliance as according to the release, the directive was approved by their ‘National office’.
The release tagged “Re: Confiscation of PMS loaded trucks at Ibaka by JTF Personnel” read thus:
“As part of collective obligation to stand for each other in season and off season, equally drawing strength from the resolution taken at our last emergency Congress over members’ trucks in the custody of JTF operatives ( 4 months now), you are hereby directed to close your station(s) from the public as follows:
Date of commencement: 24th September, 2025.
Duration: 6:00 am till further notice.
Note: This action has the approval of our National office and non-compliance will be viewed with appropriate consequence”.
Authorities of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the State could not be reached to confirm or deny the allegation. But a Senior Army personnel in the state who spoke on condition of anonymity on the premise that he was not authorized to speak to the press on the matter said “…issues like this are settled in court not by propaganda. And, from information at my disposal, this has remained the position of the JTF”.
In strict compliance with the directive, all the fueling stations were shut accordingly, occasioning untold but avoidable hardship.
Residents of the State in their reactions as captured by our correspondents noted:
“The most annoying part of the whole thing is that the incident that led to the (fuel) scarcity occurred about four months ago, according to information. How could a governor be so silent and allow the citizens to suffer to this extent?
It takes a leader who cares less about the citizens to behave this way. I think this is simply a manifestation of insensitivity by the governor. If he cannot intervene and solve such a matter, then he has failed the people”, Ubokobong, a WhatsApp user in one the platforms had equipped.
On his part, @ekpenosky said “This fuel crisis in the State has lingered for too long. For it to get to this point where the economy of the State is nearly grounded, is a proof of the governor’s loss of grip of the affairs of the State. It’s quite unfortunate”
For Lambert, “petroleum marketers in the state are members of the PDP that is why the governor is not saying anything so that he won’t offend anyone. I pity the poor masses”.
Isang said “Wetin concern him (Gov Umo Eno) with high cost of fuel? Does that stop him from being driven and escorted in long convoy to any location of his choice?”
Meanwhile, Gov Umo Eno’s former aide, Sam Osung who was sacked some months ago still on the issues bordering on fuel scarcity, has bared his mind on the crises, calling on the governor to act.
In a release he personally signed and circulated in the media, Osung revealed “Men of Operation Delta Safe led by the 2 Brigade arrested 2 Trucks of PMS and 44 Drums of PMS from 6 Filling Stations in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government over 4 Months ago
The Fillling Stations were accused of being involved in Petroleum Products Smuggling
The officials of IPMAN addressed a press conference demanding the immediate release of the trucks, subsequently they shutdown their filling Stations and embarked on a protest in Oron
The OPDS led by the Army decided that if the owners consider themselves innocent they should go to Court
We know that Smuggling is an act of economic sabotage and an innocent marketer should have gone to Court to prove his innocence
The Marketers are trying to bully the Army to release their trucks without proving their innocence
They have hired the PTD to stop Petroleum products from Entering Akwa Ibom since last Monday
The army were informed and they want to rescue the impounded trucks and escorted the trucks to the owners while requesting the documents authorizing them to stop Tankers from entering any State
The Government is aware
No one is addressing this
The Government should say something
The Government should act as Government
Are these marketers guilty??? Why are they shutting down the entire state instead of going to Court to prove their innocence??!
They did it before
I was their problem
I know what they know
I know who they know
I even know their right base on their constitutions
They ganged up and the Governor fired me
That didn’t solve the problem
I wish the Government was able to address the matter based on the right and privileges of everyone who was involved, the Government was more interested In making me the scapegoat
The issue of the excesses of NUPENG wasn’t addressed
Today they have illegally stopped tankers from entering Akwa Ibom for about a week
IPMAN have resumed panic sales with hike in price
Fuel is selling for almost 2000 per litre
The street of Uyo is empty. The Economy is collapsing
PTD is forcing the masses to pay for an action they know nothing about
This as always happen only in Akwa Ibom
No one is above the law
Go to Court and prove your innocence
The masses cannot suffer any further
The Government is silent
Criminals cannot hold the State to Ransom”.