IPMAN: Downstream Sector Reform will Stabilise Domestic Energy Supply

March 24:

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has said the reforms in the Nigerian downstream oil sector would result in stability in domestic energy supplies and put an end to the attendant socio-economic disruptions due to products scarcity.

New National President of IPMAN, Chief Obasi Lawson, who stated this in an interactive session with journalists at the weekend, said the association would join hands with the federal government to sanitise the downstream petroleum sector to ensure maximisation of benefits of oil on the national economy.

“IPMAN whole-heartedly identifies with the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and promised to join hands with the government in order to realise the gains of the transformational agenda, especially as it concerns the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria,” Lawson said.

He commended Jonathan for his transformational agenda and efforts at delivering the dividends of democracy to the citizenry in spite of the enormous challenges facing his administration.

Lawson was declared as the substantive national president of IPMAN, after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Thursday set aside the appointment of Alhaji Aminu Abubakar as the national president of the association.

The court presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi held that the appointment of Abubakar did not follow the laid down rules of the IPMAN and subsequently declared Obasi as the association’s substantive national president.

The Judge also nullified minutes of the meeting that brought the last members of the IPMAN trustee to power and restricted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), its agents, privies and concerns, as well as the Corporate Affairs Commission, (CAC) from recognising the Abubakar led trustee or deal with it.

Counsel to the applicants in the suit (concerned IPMAN members), Mr. Reuben Wanoghor described the judgment as victory for democracy and has ended the leadership crisis in the IPMAN.

Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ipman-downstream-sector-reform-will-stabilise-domestic-energy-supply/174436/?