The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, South-West Zone, has threatened to shut down operations across the region if the Lagos State government does not release 30 seized tankers.
The Chairman of IPMAN Western Zone, Joseph Akanni, disclosed this on Monday during an interview with pressmen in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Akanni expressed IPMAN’s support for the Petroleum Tanker Drivers and other industry stakeholders, stating, “An injury to one is an injury to all.”
He revealed that the 30 seized tankers, each carrying 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, were towed from the Dangote Refinery around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
“The vehicles and the drivers were arrested by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASMA) under the Ministry of Transportation in Lagos and were put at the LASMA yard in Oshodi.
“So, IPMAN is in solidarity with the PTD, National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and NUPENG is showing solidarity with the other stakeholders to take action against Lagos State governments, especially the Ministry of Transport.
“What the Ministry of Transport has done is against the law. It is dangerous. It is dangerous to keep tankers with petrol in a place because petrol is flammable. And the information reaching us is that they have started siphoning petrol from the tankers, which implies that we won’t have the same quantity as when it was towed.
“And that we are ready if nothing is done, we are ready to shut down our stations; our petrol stations across Southwest, in solidarity with the tanker drivers,” Akanni said.
He stated that the seized products belong to IPMAN members, affirming the association’s support for NUPENG’s actions regarding the incident.
Akanni emphasized that, under fire safety regulations, “even if a petrol tanker is arrested, it should first be allowed to offload its contents before any further action is taken.
“So, now they took the tankers with about 45,000 litres of petrol, numbering about 30, which is very dangerous.
“We are giving stern warning that if there is any fire incident, Lagos State government is going to be responsible for the loss of products and the deaths.”
