The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), South-West Zone, has warned that it will halt fuel distribution across the region if the Lagos State government does not release 30 impounded tankers.
IPMAN’s Western Zone Chairman, Joseph Akanni, issued the threat on Monday, February 24, during a press briefing in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“Injury to one is an injury to all,” Akanni declared, affirming IPMAN’s support for the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and other industry stakeholders affected by the arrests.
According to him, the seized tankers, each carrying 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), were towed from the Dangote Refinery at around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
“The vehicles and the drivers were arrested by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) under the Ministry of Transportation in Lagos and were put at the LASTMA yard in Oshodi,” he stated.
Akanni condemned the action, describing it as unlawful and hazardous.
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“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,” he said.
He further warned that if the issue remained unresolved, IPMAN members would shut down fuel stations across the South-West.
“The product in the impounded tankers belongs to IPMAN members, and we fully support the actions of NUPENG regarding this incident,” he added.
Akanni criticised the handling of the situation, stressing that fuel tankers should first be emptied before being impounded, as required by fire safety regulations.
“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,” he cautioned.