The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has entered into a partnership with NIMEX Petroleum Group to import 100,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products to drive Federal Government’s deregulation policy.
This is contained in a statement issued by IPMAN’s National President, Mr. Obasi Lawson, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday.
The statement said that the importation would be done by group and it would be distributed to IPMAN’s members across the country to argument supply received from the NNPC and other sources.
It said that the intended arrangement was to complement the laudable efforts of the Federal Government in driving the deregulation policy.
The statement quotedthe IPMAN president as saying that the arrangement would make petrol available in the country, adding that the quantum of petrol received from NNPC could was not sufficient for its members.
It commended the Minister of Petroleum Resources , Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and Dr. Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for ensuring that petroleum products was available for the consuming public.
It said that this strategic relationship established with NIMEX Petroleum Group would help to improve the supply chain of petroleum products in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IPMAN is thhe umbrella association of independent marketers of petroleum products in Nigeria.
It had grown to occupy a pride of place in the downstream sector of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry with no fewer than 10,000 membership across the length and breadth of the country.
NAN also reports that NIMEX Group, founded by Azmat Mahmoud, is into the provision of solid services in the petroleum sector and has branches in no less than 15 countries in Africa.
It also has about three decades experience in the provision of solid services in petroleum-related trading.
The statement said that it was in recognition of this global reach by NIMEX Group that IPMAN decided to partner it to bring its huge experience to support IPMAN in capacity building.
The statement also quoted Mr Kanwar Ratra, the President of NIMEX Petroleum Group as saying that his group was prepared to satisfy the yearning of IPMAN.
It said that the partnership with IPMAN,as a very strong petroleum marketers association,would yield fruitful results.
It said that the importation would be a continuous one to support IPMAN members and quash the market force.
Ratra in the statement lauded the leadership of IPMAN for its initiative to ensure petroleum product was available at every nook and cranny of the country.
“To this end, we assure all IPMAN members, the Federal Government and the public at large that IPMAN’s strategic relationship with NIMEX will ensure the availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the Automated Gas Oil (AGO) and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) in large commercial quantities.
“They will complement the efforts of government toquench the burning thirst of our members and the public at large for these products.”
“It will be a win-win situation for IPMAN, the generality of Nigerians and NIMEX Group,” it said.
(NAN)
