IPMAN In Anambra Threatens To Shutdown If State Govt. Refuses To Pay Compensation For Filling Stations
Titus Maduako Eleweke
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN, Enugu Depot, has threatened to shutdown all filling stations in Anambra State, if state government fails to pay adequate compensation to all filling stations earmarked for demolition.
Chairman, Enugu Depot of IPMAN, Comrade Chinedu Anyaso, who disclosed this shortly after they emerged from emergency meeting in Awka, Anambra state capital, to deliberate on Governor Soludo’s earmarking of 13 filling stations for demolition to pave way for the construction of flyover in Ekwulobia, Aguata local government Area.
Enugu Depot is made up of Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states.
Comrade Anyaso stated categorically that government cannot just demolish people’s property without paying compensations.
He l urged all members of IPMAN to be at alert, stating that if government goes ahead to demolish any of the 13 filling stations earmarked, they would close their stations.
According to him, those filling stations are the main economic stay of the affected families, therefore, government cannot create hardship for those families.
“If the government goes ahead to demolish these filling stations, it will negatively affect the living standard of the affected families. Honestly, government must adequately pay compensation before demolition of the filling stations” he said .
He also disclosed that they had written several letters to the governor but no reply yet.
Comrade Anyaso further urged members not to sign any document from government until such documents are properly studied by IPMAN.
“We cannot fight the government, but we can withdraw our services to the public if the governor refuses to pay compensation before demolition of any of the filling stations. We must all stand by any of our members. It could be anybody” he asserted.
Reacting to the issue, Anambra state Commissioner for Petroleum, Mr. Ifeanyi Ifeanya, posited that the governor has the right to revoke any property for public overriding interest.
He, however, informed that government will meet with the group for discussion.
According to him, the matter is a legal issue and government lawyers must be involved.
