The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) has commended the federal government for ensuring availability of petrol and other petroleum products during this festive period.

The Chairman of IPMAN in Kogi State, Mr. Joel Olufemi who gave the commendation during a chat with newsmen in Lokoja on Thursday, observed that long queue of vehicles at filling stations, which used to characterise this period, had not been seen.

Olufemi also said that virtually all filling stations across the state have enough fuel to sell to motorists, adding that the development had ensured stability in transport fares.

He warned members of the association and other operators of filling stations in the state against hoarding of petrol, Kerosine and diesel, during after the eid-el-Kabir period, and that operators found wanting would be dealt with.

The IPMAN Chairman also advised motorists plying roads from the state from to other parts of the country to feel free to buy fuel from any station, urging them not to hesitate to call the attention of the association to any act of underselling, over pricing and other negative acts.

Olufemi also exonerated officials of the Weight and Measurement Department of the Ministry of Commerce and Trade from allegation of bribery, saying that officials of the department had not been soliciting bribes from members of IPMAN.

“No official from the Ministry of Trade and Commerce at any time visited any filling station to exhort money. The allegation is baseless, untrue and a figment of the imagination of the writer.” He , however, explained that officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) had been visiting filling stations in the state solely to ensure that correct measurement of fuel were dispensed to motorists at the official pump price. (NAN)

•Photo shows Fuel Station

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