The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged the federal government to allow its members to source a direct supply of petroleum products to ease the pressure in the sector.

Chinedu Anyaso, chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, said this in his 2024 Independence message on Tuesday in Awka.

Mr Anyaso noted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd determined the sourcing and pricing of products.

“As it is today, we are selling according to the price we are getting the products; there is not much we can do to influence the major variables of price and availability.

“IPMAN controls about 85 per cent of retail outlets in the country, so we are in a position to play greater impacts in the reforms going on in the sector.

“If the sector is further liberalised to allow IPMAN to participate as major stakeholders, products will definitely become more available, and the price will be cheaper,” he said.

Mr Anyaso said the national leadership of IPMAN was already holding strategic talks with the management of Dangote Refinery to secure direct supply from the company.

He said sourcing products directly from the company would reduce price.

Mr Anyaso said IPMAN had visited the Port Harcourt Refinery and could confirm that serious work was ongoing to bring the facility back to operation.

He expressed optimism that lifting the product would commence in the distant future.

The chairman, however, appealed to the general public to understand the role of IPMAN in the ongoing challenge in the sector.

Mr Anyaso added that marketers were negatively affected by the challenge in the sector in terms of reduced sales and profitability.

The IPMAN chairman urged Nigerians to have faith in the country, noting that there would be light at the end of the tunnel.

(NAN)