The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN has alleged diversion of petroleum products meant for depots to private individuals.
The Chairman of Electoral Committee, Warri Depot and National Officer, IPMAN Mid West Zone, Ben Odjugo, made the allegation in Warri, Delta State during the Annual General Meeting of the association in Warri on Saturday.
He appealed to the Federal Government to make petroleum products available to Warri Depot and fix Warri Refinery without further delay.
According to Odjugo, the authorities should “stop deceiving Nigerians under the guise of Turn Around Maintenance while they are doing nothing”.
He said, “Previous administrations have always said that they are doing turnaround maintenance but none of the so-called maintenance has made the refinery work. So, until this government is seen to be working and they are able to make the Warri Refinery work, that is when the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will prove to Nigerians that it is sincere.”
He also explained that due of what is happening in the depot recently, the acrimony and series of court cases that have cropped up in the course of this election, as law abiding citizens, the association decided to put the election aside and set up a management team that will run the affairs of the depot until election is conducted.
He noted that the management team would carry out the roles of the executive.
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, who was represented by the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Vincent Oyibode, urged IPMAN to conduct themselves peacefully, promising continued support of the state government to the union.
He noted that IPMAN was key to the success of his administration and appealed to members of the union to remain focused and united.
Speaking earlier, the immediate past Chairman of the association, Zino Onaemo, lamented that he could not fulfill some of the promises he made when he was elected because the Warri Refinery was not working and the depot was not getting enough petroleum products from the Federal Government.
