The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has raised alarm over the circulation of the low-density grade of automotive gas oil (better known as diesel), in the South East of the country.
Chairman of IPMAN’s Enugu depot community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu States, Chinedu Anyaso, said Awka, Anambra State capital, on Sunday that the association’s leadership had received reports of damaged vehicles and industrial machines from members of the public as a result of suspected off-spec diesel.
He said the association had set up a task force to unravel the syndicate responsible for the distribution of the unwholesome product in the zone.
The IPMAN chairman said the distribution of such petroleum products was not just a two-fold hazard for customers, but also an economic sabotage which should be discouraged by all.
He said: “IPMAN wants to alert members of the public, especially those buying automotive gas oil or diesel, to be cautious when buying the product because there is a report of low-density quality in circulation.
“We have received reports of possible fake product in circulation which has affected vehicles and machines negatively, so we are advising that they be more careful.
“On our part as an association, we have already set up a task force to monitor the situation and find out those who are responsible for sourcing and distributing the product across the zone”.
Anyaso urged marketers, especially those who do not buy from depots, to ensure that the products they procured were authentic, as ignorance on the part of defaulters would not be tolerated.
He added that IPMAN would work with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and relevant security agencies to remove the unwholesome product from circulation.
