CSOs Threaten IPMAN Over Plans To Hike Fuel Pump Price To N700

Trouble seems to be looming between groups of Civil Society Organizations ( CSOs) and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, ( IPMAN ) over alleged plans to hike fuel pump price to N700.

This indication emerged on Friday from a statement issued and made available to journalists in Abuja by the groups.

The statement signed by Dr Basil Musa, Convener, Malam Haruna Maigida, Co-Convener, and Ayo Adebayo on behalf of the Coalition, accused IPMAN of contemplating a sinister agenda that will inflict Nigerians with more difficulties.

The groups noted that it was utmost wickedness for the marketers to plan such outrageous increase, disregarding government’s approved price of N448 per litre.

The Coalition vowed that they would mobilized their members and other stakeholders across the 36 States of the Federation to embark on a protest, adding that the protest will target at shutting down filling stations nationwide, as Nigerians cannot afford to be railroaded into ignominy of life by IPMAN.

Some of the groups includes ; Oil and Gas Transparency and Advocacy Group, Civil Society Coalition for Economic Development (CED), Centre for Citizens Rights, Centre for Good Governance Advocacy, Action against Corruption in Nigeria and others called on the government to call IPMAN to order, stressing that Nigerians are already watching and wallowing in difficulty over the recently adjusted fuel pump price with no palliative measures yet.

According to them, ” IPMAN has no statutory power to adjust fuel pump price, noting that any such move will be resisted at all cost, and “Nigerians would be mobilized to the streets across the federation.

“As Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, we are monitoring events and the proposed fuel pump hike to N700 per litre by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN is unacceptable.

“If the government derelicts in cautioning the IPMAN, we see it as a deliberate collusion to drive Nigerians into unmitigated difficulties and as CSOs, we will not sit and watch that happen. We will mobilise Nigerians to a street protest and that should be taken from us.

“We watch the removal of fuel subsidy regime by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023 and we take the dare consequences as part of sacrifice awaiting when government would have settled to come up with ameliorative measures for the citizens, but, IPMAN’s to adjust fuel pump price will stoke protests because it isn’t in the interest of Nigerians.” The statement added.