IPMAN Laud Anambra Gov’t For Suspending Consultant Who Invaded, Harassed Marketers

By OOur Reporter

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for suspending the operations of Divine Rapture Ltd, a Consultant whose operations were causing problems in the oil and gas distribution chain.

Divine Rapture was suspended after a meeting between the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources with the leadership of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) in Awka.

The ‘Agent’ company was empowered to operate with effect from March 15 through a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and dated March 15.

The company was charged among other things to monitor illegal bunkering, identify production and distribution of substandard petroleum products and gather intelligence on unlawful mining.

Mr Chinedu Anyaso, the Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States told journalists in Awka on Saturday that the decision of Anambra government to call Divine Rapture to order was a welcome development.

Anyaso said it was an indication that the Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration was not only listening but a responsive one .

He said IPMAN had protested the excesses of the company through a letter to Soludo adding that the company invaded, harassed and shut down members’ outlets without recourse to the law governing the industry.

“On behalf of marketers in Anambra, I want to thank the government of Prof. Soludo for hearing out cry and responding accordingly by stopping the operations of Divine Rapture Ltd.

“We had a very fruitful meeting with the Commissioner for the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and we are very satisfied by the way he intervened.

‘I want to reassure the readiness of marketers to work harmoniously with the State government and the Ministry in particular towards ensuring strict compliance to industry standards,” he said.

Anyaso also appreciated the State government for reaching a conclusive understanding on the issue of consolidated revenue payable by the marketers to the Anambra government.

He said the consolidated levy would address the problem of multiple levies and unnecessary faceoff with different government agencies.