The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has directed its members nationwide to reduce pump price of petrol from N145 per litre to N140.
The directive was announced yesterday by the national president of the association, Mr. Chinedu Okoronkwo represented by Northwest Zonal chairman of the association, Alhaji Bashir Salisu Tahir in Kano.
Tahir said the national president had said that the directive should take effect from Wednesday, February 20.
He said the decision followed last Saturday’s last minute postponement of presidential and national assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said Nigerians had travelled to different parts of the country to cast their votes but felt disappointed when the exercise was shifted to February 23.
He added IPMAN was prompted to slash N5 from the N145 official fuel price in a bid to motivate Nigerians to return to their respective destinations to vote on February 23 and March 9 respectively.
“We urge all our members across Nigeria to immediately reduce the fuel pump price from N145 per litre to N140 per litre.
“This is because of the political situation that hit the country after INEC suddenly announced the postponement of presidential and National Assembly elections after Nigerians were fully prepared.
“We are all aware how Nigerians travelled to different parts of the country in order to exercise their civic duty; unfortunately, they heard sad news of postponement of the polls.
“This made us deem it fit to reduce the pump price in order to ease their suffering, and to also motivate them to travel again to exercise their franchise on Feb. 23,” he said.
He therefore urged IPMAN members nationwide to immediately comply with the directive to enable Nigerians travel to exercise their civic responsibility.
Okworonkwo maintained that IPMAN’s decision followed President Muhammadu Buhari’s concern over the election postponement.
“We decided to express our concern over the postponement, as President Buhari expressed concern over the development.
“As Buhari apologised to Nigerians to show restraint and return to polling units on February 23, IPMAN therefore called on the citizens to exercise patience and come out en masse to cast their votes on the rescheduled date,” he said.
