Idongesit Ashameri, Uyo
Petroleum dealers in Akwa Ibom State have lifted the ban on the sale of petroleum products following a crucial meeting with Governor Umo Eno, bringing an end to the three-day fuel crisis that paralyzed the state.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Akwa Ibom had earlier directed all marketers to shut down operations through a letter dated September 24, 2024, signed by Chairman Comrade Francis Udoyen and Secretary Prince Ekom Idemudo.
The directive came in response to the confiscation of PMS-loaded trucks at Ibaka by personnel of the Joint Task Force (JTF), a situation that had persisted for four months.
“As part of our collective obligation to stand for each other in season and off-season, and 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 filling station(s) to the public,” the letter stated. It noted that non-compliance with the directive, which had the backing of the national office, would attract severe consequences.
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The strike action triggered an immediate scarcity of petroleum products, pushing the black market price of fuel to a staggering N2,000 per liter. In response to the crisis, the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) directed all workers in the state to withdraw their services and stay at home until the fuel crisis was resolved.
The NLC, in its notice of service withdrawal, urged Governor Umo Eno to intervene directly by setting up an investigative team to resolve the dispute that led to the truck confiscations and subsequent fuel scarcity.
The labor union also called on the Governor to immediately inaugurate the Petroleum Monitoring Taskforce, as promised during the state’s 37th Anniversary celebration, to check irregularities in the petroleum sector.
In response, Governor Eno convened a high-level meeting with petroleum marketers on Wednesday in Uyo. While acknowledging that the issue was outside his direct jurisdiction, the Governor expressed deep concern for the hardship endured by residents and directed the Commissioner for Internal Security and Waterways to engage relevant authorities and investigate the situation.
As part of long-term solutions, Governor Eno announced plans to explore the establishment of a petroleum depot in the state to ensure a steady supply of petroleum products and prevent future disruptions.
In reaction to the Governor’s intervention, key IPMAN leaders, including Mr Michael Udofia and Joseph Otu, as well as stakeholders from the Petrol Tanker Drivers Association (PTD) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), announced the immediate lifting of the ban. They assured the public that petroleum products would be readily available once again, effectively ending the fuel crisis.
