The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Adamawa/Taraba chapter, has expressed its resolve to continue its strike even as petrol sells for N2,000 per litre.

The IPMAN chairman, Dahiru Buba, stated this in an interview in Yola on Tuesday.

He said that the strike was occasioned by incessant harassment of its members and illegal seizures of their tankers carrying petrol by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

He said customs officers had abandoned their designated areas of operation at the borders and were now targeting legitimate businesses in metropolitan and local government areas.

According to him, these have led to financial losses, artificial scarcity, and a hike in product prices. The strike will continue until NCS stops its activities.

The strike and the prohibition of petrol pump price have resulted in low vehicular movements on the roads.

Abubakar Muhammed, a resident, stated that workers and other commuters now find it difficult to get transport to their offices and destinations.

Mr Muhammad explained that this was due to the sharp rise in transport fares as commuters now pay N700 instead of N300 for a drop.

Most fuel stations in Yola are closed, and motorists can only source petrol from black markets in some metropolises.

On June 10, the customs’ comptroller-general, Adewale Adeniyi, during a news briefing in Yola, solicited the support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the fight against smuggling, especially petrol.

He said that the smuggling of petroleum products across the country’s borders was a sabotage of Nigeria’s economy.

Mr Adeniyi, therefore, solicited the cooperation and support of all Nigerians with security agencies to curb the menace.

(NAN)