By Ikpechukwu Ojobor
ENUGU, NIGERIA – September 9, 2025: Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), South East zone, has disowned claims linking its members to the ongoing face-off between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Hon. Chukwudi Fred Ezinwa, National Ex-Officio representing the East at IPMAN’s National Executive Council (NEC), said the zone has not declared any strike and will only act on directives from the national leadership.
“Our National President, Alhaji Gerima Shettima, has not spoken on this matter. For us in the South East, there is no strike,” Ezinwa said.
He urged both NUPENG and Dangote to resolve their differences through dialogue rather than actions that could worsen hardship for Nigerians.
“Let nobody add more pain to the injury of the masses,” he cautioned. “Any strike will not affect Dangote, governors, or senators. It is the poor and the common man on the street that will suffer.”
On the controversy surrounding the leadership of IPMAN in the East, Ezinwa dismissed claims by Prince Bobby Dick, who has been parading himself as Zonal Chairman.
“We don’t know him as our chairman. Our Zonal Chairman, Chief Larry Nworu, is still in the mortuary, yet to be buried. It is disrespectful for anyone to parade himself as chairman at this time,” he stated.
Ezinwa reaffirmed that South East IPMAN remains focused on stability in the petroleum sector and loyal to its national leadership. GMTNewsng
