NAN-H-65
Closure
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Oct.10, 2017 (NAN) Officials of Ebonyi government and petrol marketers operating in the state, have expressed divergent views that led to shut down of some petrol stations in the state.
While petrol marketers attribute the reason to hike in tax demanded by the state, government officials claim it was due to the visit of officials from the secretariats of IPMAN and Petrol Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) in Enugu to the state.
The News Agency f Nigeria (NAN) reports in Tuesday that the development left scores of motorists and commuters stranded and paralyzed commercial activities in Abakaliki and other parts of the state.
It also kept several commercial motorcyclists and tricycles operators off the roads.
The few who were on the roads say they bought petrol at between N300 to N400 per litre instead of the N145 per litre-pump price.
The development also led to 200 per cent hike in transport fares across the state.
Commuters who could not afford the hike in transport fares walked to their various offices and business areas.
Government officials dismissed insinuation that the shut down of petrol stations was caused by strike embarked by marketers over hike in tax.
But IPMAN members insisted they embarked on the strike due astronomical hike in tax demanded by the government.
Bassey Chima, SA to Ebonyi governor on Petroleum Products Pricing and Distribution, attributed the reason for the shut down of petrol stations to the visit of officials of IPMAN and PEDAN zonal secretariats to Ebonyi.
“Officials of IPMAN and PEDAN zonal secretariats in Enugu are visiting their members in Ebonyi for a meeting.
“The marketers decided to shut down petrol stations to enable their members attend the meeting; this is the usual practice when officials from the secretariat visit any area.
“Petrol dealers are not on strike over hike in taxes as being insinuated.
“The government cannot allow any development that will bring untold hardship to the people,” Chima added.
However, a top official of IPMAN, who spoke under condition of anonymity, countered the claim made by the SA, insisting his members were on strike.
“We are protesting the enforcement of N150, 000 which the government insisted we must pay as tax to operate in the state.
“We used to pay N12, 000 during the past administration, but the government increased it to N150, 000.
“IPMAN chairman in the state ask us to pay N50, 000 for peace to reign.
“We accepted to pay the N50, 000, but the government insisted on payment of N150, 000.
“Some of our members agreed to pay between N80, 000 and N100, 000,” he said.
The official said some officials of IPMAN and PEDAN informed the government that their members had agreed to pay the new tax which prompted immediate enforcement by government task force.
“Members of the task force stormed our stations on Monday and manhandled our staff who failed to produce receipts of payment of the tax among other levies.
“They removed the nozzle of the pump in most of our stations; the action necessisated our leaders to invite officials from our zonal secretariat in Enugu for intervention.
“The officials are in the state and the outcome of their meeting with government will determine whether we will resume operations or continue with the strike,” he said.
Efforts made by NAN to get the views of the state chairmen of IPMAN, PEDAN as well as officials from their zonal secretariats, proved abortive as their aides claimed they were attending the meeting. (NAN)
RCO/CEO/AEA
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Edited by Chidi Opara/Archibong Asuquo