Operators of Petroleum downstream sector in
Anambra state have given governor Willie Obiano a 21 day ultimatum
to call its agencies to order to stop harassing them or risk total
shut of petroleum supply in the state.
They said various government agencies have been intimidating and harrsaing them with multiple levies .
The
operators under the aegis of NNPC Enugu Depot Community issued the
warning in a statement issued at the end of all stakeholders’ meeting
held in Awka on Tuesday.
Members include the
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN),
Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN), Anambra Chapter, and
Petroleum Tanker Drivers(PTD.
The statement was
signed by Mr Chinedu Anyaso and Mr Emeka Iloafor, Chairman and
Secretary respectively of IPMAN, Enugu Depot, Chief Cletus Okafor and Mr
Peter Jideani, Chairman and secretary respectively of PEDAN and Mr
Charles Ezeme and Mr Oliver Ekwueme of PTD Enugu Unit.
The
Petroleum dealers said they have been harassed by different agencies of
government under Internally Generated Revenue who distribute various
demand notices for taxes and levies to their members against the
existing agreed terms they had with government.
“At
the end of the meeting, we resolve that Anambra government should
direct the relevant agencies to withdraw all the demand notices revert
to previous arrangement already in place and stop harassing our members.“Government
should reach out to the Police authorities to stop forthwith the
harassment and attacks on our petrol stations and advise them to focus
on their surveillance on states and locations where petroleum products
are loaded.
“Your Excellency Sir, we are
expecting that government act on the above demands within 21 working
days to avoid leaving us with no other option than to call for
withdrawal of services of our members as we cannot continue to operate
under the present environment,” the satment added.
The
Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Oil and Gas Mr Peter
Nwosu who expressed displeasure at their complaints, promised to relay
their message to the governor for appropriate action.
Nwosu
who is also a patron of the group said Anambra would continue to
provide conducive business environment for the group, saying that the
governor would not allow the state to shutdown.