Fuel scarcity: Kano anti-corruption agency receives manifest of 81 petrol trucks from IPMAN

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Kano State Public Complaint and Anti Corruption Commission has intervened in the lingering fuel scarcity rocking the country and the state. 

Kano was plunged into fuel scarcity, with several filling stations firmly padlocked, living residents to wallow in destitution.

However, the quick intervention of the State Anti Corruption Commission into the matter has already started yielding fruition with long queues at some few filling stations disappearing.

The chairman of the anti-corruption body, Barrister Muhmud Balarabe, shortly after a closed-door meeting with the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, IPMAN, Alhaji Bashir Ahmad Dan-Mallam stated that the meeting was fruitful. 

Balarabe said he discussed extensively with the IPMAN Chairman in a closed-door meeting that later for hours, where he ordered him to provide the menifest of the product supplied to Kano.

He said, “when he brought the Menifest, we understand that there were 81 trucks on ground already supplied to the state. He assured me that the trucks would be dispensed as quickly as possible,” he said. 

However, in a statement issued to journalists on Monday, the Chairman of IPMAN, Kano zone, Alhaji Bashir Ahmad Dan-Mallam, the association said it has formed the committee, in collaboration with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to check hoarding of the commodity at filling stations. 

According to Dan-Mallam, any marketer found culpable of hoarding the product would be dealt with, emphasizing that IPMAN would not allow some unscrupulous elements within its fold to inflict hardship on innocent Nigerians. 

He disclosed that 210  tankers of petroleum have been loaded with the product for distribution nationwide today. 

The chairman, therefore called  on the citizens not to panic as the product being supplied would be more than enough for their consumption. 

He assured the people that the problem would not last long as IPMAN, in collaboration with NNPC, is on top of the situation to ensure the availability of the product. 

“I urge people not to panic. That panicking is what causes long queues at filling stations because people have the impression that the petroleum would be scarced, that is why you see somebody with five cars and jeryycans come to filling to buy fuel. This is what causes congestion. 

“Let me call on Nigerians to be rest assured that IPMAN, in collaboration with NNPC and other stakeholders are on top of the situation and be rest assured that this problem will not last long,” he said in the statement. 

However, Dan-Mallam assured Nigerians that there is no plan to increase the price of fuel in the country. 

According to him, IPMAN had contacted all stakeholders in the petroleum sector and they assured that there is no plan to increase the price of fuel at the moment.