The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has constituted a taskforce committee to check hoarding of the product by filling stations.
The Chairman of IPMAN, Kano Zone, Alhaji Bashir Danmallam, made the announcement on Monday in Kano in a statement issued to newsmen.
He said that the committee would work in collaboration with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to ensure availability of fuel at filling stations across the country.
The chairman said that any marketer found hoarding the product would be dealt with.
“IPMAN will not allow some unscrupulous elements within its fold to inflict hardship on innocent Nigerians,” he said.
He further disclosed that available record indicated that 210 petroleum tankers were loaded with the product for distribution nationwide, today (Monday).
The chairman, therefore, called on the citizens not to panic as the product being supplied would be more than enough for their consumption.
“I urge people not to panic. Panicking is what causes long queues at filling stations, because people have the impression that the petroleum will be scarce.
“IPMAN, NNPC and other stakeholders are on top of the situation, be rest assured that this problem will not last long,” he said.
Danmallam said that the government told them that there was no plan to hike price of fuel in the country.
“IPMAN had contacted all stakeholders in the petroleum sector and they assured them that there is no plan to increase the price of fuel at the moment,” he said.