The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Western Zone, has directed all its members across the South-West to shut down operations from Monday, September 8, 2025, in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over threats to job security and alleged monopoly in the downstream oil sector.
The decision was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of IPMAN, Western Zone, Basorun Joseph Oyewole Akanni, and the Acting Secretary, Mr. Adeleke Adeola Adeoye, on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
According to the resolution, the directive followed concerns over what IPMAN described as the “indecent monopoly” of the petroleum products distribution chain by MRS Energy Limited and Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company.
The association expressed grave concern that the entry of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals into the petrol distribution chain would cripple thousands of IPMAN members’ businesses and render Petroleum Tanker Drivers and their assistants (motor boys) jobless.
“This is a collective decision by all zonal council members, officers, depot chairmen, and secretaries. No member must open their stations for operations from Monday,” the statement read.
IPMAN further stressed that the move by Dangote Refinery contravenes the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which prohibits a refining company from directly engaging in product distribution.
“This is a flagrant disobedience to the law guiding operations in the downstream sector,” the statement added.
The association called on the Federal Government to intervene by upholding the PIA and preventing what it described as attempts to monopolise the downstream value chain.
IPMAN emphasised that its solidarity with NUPENG is aimed at protecting the survival of independent marketers, ensuring job security for tanker drivers, and preserving competition in the petroleum products distribution sector.
