By Mercy Akuba
The Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria ,(IPMAN) Edo State Branch , Comrade Douglas Iyike has disclosed that plans to convert fuel vehicles to Gas Engines are on top gears as a way to cushion the effect of high cost of fuel on Nigerians.
Comrade Iyike who stated this while responding to Newsmen in Benin City noted that no doubt, removal of fuel subsidy has increased the suffering of Nigerians which according to him is temporal, but yet commended the President for taking the bold step to scrap off the subsidy.
He said the IPMAN National President , Mr. Chinedu Okonkwo led Executive has introduced Compress Natural Gas (CNG) which will soon commence sales in all Filling Stations in Nigeria while the Association is ready to build more gas stations across the country.
He however, advised owners of filling stations to use at least two pump stands to dispense Compress Natural Gas while the remaining pumps should dispense fuel to customers as there are no risk attached to it.
“IPMAN is putting all necessary measures to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on the people”.
Refuting the rumors making round in the State, He said IPMAN has no intention to increase the price of fuel.
‘I use this opportunity to tell the general public to disregard the false information, I can not as IPMAN Chairman increase fuel price for over 20,000 Marketers in this Country, even if, there is going to be an increase, it does not lie in the hands of the National Chairman, it all depend on where each Marketers purchase the product from. But for now there is nothing of such” He said.
“A lot of Marketers has also withdrawn their purchasing power from local refineries due to increase price of fuel”.
‘I can categorically tell you that if there is going to be an increase, we Marketers should be the one to issue such information. For now the private deports are not selling because Marketers are not buying fuel.’
Comrade Douglas Iyike availed the opportunity to stress that there is no faction in Edo IPMAN as he remains the elected and recognized State Chairman of IPMAN in Edo State.