The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to protect operations of marketers in the State from the plague of multiple taxes and harassment by different agents.
IPMAN, which made the appeal at an emergency general meeting with members in Awka on Wednesday, issued a 21-working days notice to shut down operations if their grouses were not addressed.
The ultimatum was a unanimous decision of the no fewer than 700 marketers in attendance.
The meeting was presided over by the Chairman of IPMAN Enugu Community Depot, Mr. Chinedu Anyaso, and members of his executive and Chief Linus Mgbakaogu, a national ex-officio.
The marketers said they had an agreement of harmonised revenue agreement approved by Soludo, and have been keeping their part of the bargain by paying as and when due.
They expressed dismay that some local government officials and agencies are coming up with different type of demand notices, arresting members and extorting money from them.
Anyaso said members were asked by the House of Assembly to produce some operational documents but IPMAN was of the opinion that only the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency had such powers under the Petroleum Industry Act.
According to him, marketers agreed on annual fees/levies of N120,000 with the Anambra government which Governor Soludo approved, adding that they have been complying fully with the terms.
“But now we have different demand notices general purpose fee, Land Use Charge, fire, Signage, waste management and worse if it is that local government councils are arresting and extorting our members under different guise.
“We are appealing to Gov. Soludo to protect our members in Anambra, we have an existing agreement, if that is no longer applicable they should sit with us for renegotiation, that is why we are asking that this harassment and extortion should be addressed.
“So we are giving a 21 days strike notice within which the state government, Local government and marketers would meet for discussion on revenue and we expect that all court cases are withdrawn and all arrested members freed,” he said.
Anyaso also called on the Federal government to address the issue of unpaid bridge claims by members in the zone and pay them so they could remain in business.
Also, a national ex officio of IPMAN, Chief Linus Mgbakaogu, described the business environment for members in Anambra as hostile.
According to him, “the agreement we reached with other states as we did with Anambra is still subsisting but I do not know why the governor’s order is being disregarded by various agents of State”.
“Mr. Governor is our person, the buck stops on his table and we expect that he should protect us,” he said.
In his speech, the Chairman of Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Greg Ezeilo, blamed the misunderstanding on local government chairmen, who wish to assert their autonomy, but promised to intervene and ensure that the areas of concern are addressed.
Ezeilo said Soludo is keen on improving Ease of Business in Anambra, and would not condone anything that would jeopardise businesses.
“I will create environment for, constructive dialogue is held, I am aware you are open to negotiation and I will tell them to come to negotiate with you.”