By CHIMEZIE ANASO

Commercial activities in Anambra came to a standstill on Wednesday following a shutdown of petroleum outlets by independent marketers across the state.

The closure of the outlets, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt, was to ensure full attendance of members to an all-important meeting between leadership of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and members of Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria, Anambra chapter.

The development left motorists who hoped to buy fuel in the morning stranded while those who sought the product through the black market bought a litre of petrol for as high as N700.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, said they were worried about their members whose outlets were earmarked for demolition by the Anambra government.

NAN reports that about 13 functional filling stations in Ekwulobia area had been earmarked for demolition by the Anambra government to make way for a flyover project planned by the government.

Anyaso said IPMAN was appealing to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to make adequate compensation for the owners of 13 outlets and ensure that their families and businesses do not go into misery and extinction.

The Chairman said they had sought audience with the governor for a dialogue on the matter but expressed regret that the association had not received a response from the government.

He said IPMAN and Anambra government were partners in progress and that the association was not interested in having a conflict with it but rather, it was seeking a mutually-rewarding resolution of the impasse.

“We are worried about the suffering of our members who will be displaced by the flyover project at Ekwulobia, there is no form of resettlement plan for them, so we are calling for adequate compensation.

“We are not interested in having problem with Anambra government because we are partners in progress, families will be affected, businesses will suffer, we want to meet and discuss with the government,” he said.

Anyaso charged members to continue to live up to their civic responsibility by paying the mutually-agreed consolidated yearly rate of N120,000 promptly while urging Anambra government to call community groups and others who come to it for any other form of payment to order.

Also speaking, Chief Linus Mgbakogu, the representative of the Southeast in National leadership of IPMAN, said Anambra government should embrace dialogue on possible ways of addressing the plights of victims.

Mgbakogu said IPMAN would act in solidarity with their members to ensure the development project did not bring unbearable suffering to them.

According to him, we will do everything that is legally possible to get the attention of government.

“Development is for the living, government should ensure joblessness and poverty do increase as a result of its activities,” he said.

The marketers thereafter directed members to open their stations for business while they await the response of government.

Meanwhile, the Anambra government said it was aware of the complaints of IPMAN about how the project will affect people but noted that the demolition was not targeted only at the marketers but all those whose property situate on the corridor.

Mr Tony Ifeanya, Commissioner for Petroleum, told NAN the action was in line with the Land Use Act which provides for compulsory acquisition of land for overriding public interest.

He, however, assured that the government of Prof. Soludo, known for due process, was not oblivious of the fact that there should be a compensation plan for all those displaced as a result of the project. (NAN)

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