The Chairman of the Petroleum Product Monitoring Committee, Hon. Godwin Ekpo, has called on residents of Akwa Ibom State to remain calm in the face of a proposed strike by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), which is scheduled to begin today, Thursday.
The appeal comes as many fuel stations across the state have already shut down their services, leading to long queues and uncertainty among motorists and business owners.
The preemptive shutdown has triggered concerns about potential fuel scarcity and its economic impact on the daily lives of residents.
“I urge all residents of Akwa Ibom State to remain calm, we are in communication with all relevant stakeholders to resolve the issues and ensure that this situation is handled with the utmost care”, he said in a press release.
The reasons behind IPMAN’s proposed strike have not been fully disclosed, but industry sources suggest the action is related to ongoing disputes over operational costs and product allocation.
However, the state government, through the Petroleum Product Monitoring Committee, is actively working to mediate the situation and prevent a full-blown industrial action.
Residents are advised to avoid panic buying and to await further official announcements from the government as efforts to avert the strike continue.
