YULTIDE: IPMAN Elects Tekena ThankGod Ikpaki as New Chair, Assures of Petroleum Availability…details
By Precious Ahiakwo
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Port Harcourt Refinery Unit now has a new Chairman, he is Tekena ThankGod Ikpaki.
The newly elected chairman of the body, Ikpaki, in his acceptance speech shortly after Port Harcourt Depot Unit‘s 2023 Annual General Meeting/Election, in Rivers State, called for the quick completion of the ongoing refurbishing of the Port Harcourt Refinery so as to mitigate the effect of the hike and unavailability of petroleum Products in the state.
Tekena ThankGod Ikpaki while assuring that there will be positive changes in the petroleum market during his administration in the state frowned that the non-functionality of the refinery has pushed many of its members out of business.
He said, “The non-functionality of the refinery has crippled a lot of businesses and a lot of people have gone out of business. People who cannot sustain with the little that is available to them.”
“Goods and services as we know move from one part of the country to another is transportation and this works with petroleum products. The dilapidation of the refinery has affected the movement of goods and services.”
“We will try our best to ensure that products that will come from the refinery when it is complete get to our members and then it gets to our communities.
“We will bring in new ideas into the leadership of the body. We were elected to manage the activities of IPMAN. We want to make a difference”.
Meanwhile, the Zonal Chairman, System 2E of IPMAN, Prince Bobby-Ibekwe, charged the newly elected executive of the body to ensure that members get products to sell when the Port Harcourt Refinery commence operation.
Bobby-Ibekwe challenged the Port Harcourt Unit executive of IPMAN to ensure the protection of the interest of IPMAN and members of the public in other to reduce the suffering experienced by the people occasioned by harsh economic conduction.
He however stated hopefulness that the Port Harcourt Refinery will begin full operation in early 2024.