The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Enugu State branch has called on the Federal Government to reopen the Enugu Depot that has been abandoned for about 25 years.
The IPMAN Chairman, Chinedu Anyaso, made the call at a press briefing on Thursday, organised by the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Enugu State chapter to discuss the challenges Nigerians were facing over the fuel scarcity and new naira notes crisis.
Anyaso, who was represented by IPMAN Secretary, Iloafor Nnaemeka, lamented that because of the closure of Enugu Depot, it has been challenging for the association’s members to lift fuel for the South East Zone, as they had to rely on Port Harcourt, Warri or Lagos to get the supply of petroleum products at very high cost and risks.
According to him, if the depot resumes operation, supplies would flow and they would be able to sell at government-regulated pump prices.
He absolved IPMAN of the fuel scarcity and the hike in price.
“The problem is man-made. We have a depot in Enugu and for 25 years, the government has not done anything about it,” he said.
He lamented that the Federal Government could not support the modular refinery so that the products could be available and affordable.
“The Federal Government has refused to support the modular refinery to have enough supply. Nobody derives joy in the suffering and hardship of the people. Our trucks suffer in transit,” he stated.
He called on the FG to do something to reduce the suffering of Nigerians.
The Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the NYCN, Comrade Atigwe Henry, while addressing the media, expressed concern over the hardship and difficulties caused by the lack of cash for citizens to carry out their daily transactions and the high price of petroleum products.
