The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has advised the governor of Anambra state Prof. Charles Soludo to jettison the idea of a State Petroleum Committee to monitor activities in the downstream subsector in the state.
Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu depot community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu states Mr. Chinedu Anyaso gave the advice while speaking to newsmen in Awka on Monday.
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Anyaso who was reacting to a Statement by Mr. Anthony Ifeanya, Commissioner for Petroleum in Anambra which said he was waiting for Soludo’s approval to set up the committee said it would create confusion and duplicate functions.
According to Ifeanya the committee would monitor compliance with petroleum products quality and price by filling station outlets in Anambra.
But the IPMAN chairman said the rules and standards in the sector were set and monitored by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of the Federal Government and the state cannot introduce another one.
According to him, NMDPRA was empowered by the Petroleum Industry Act to approve, license, monitor, and regulate activities in the sector and whoever has complaints should channel them to the authority.
Anyaso said marketers in the state had held meetings with the Commissioner but the issue of the Petroleum Committee had never been discussed.
“IPMAN wants to advise that there is no need for that, section 48(1) of PIA empowers NWDPRA to solely supervise activities of marketers and they have the capacity to do their work, such committees by states will create confusion,” he said.
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