IPMAN’s National Body Disowns Western Zone Strike, Throws Support Behind Dangote Refinery

A major rift has emerged in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) national leadership has openly rejected a strike announced by its Western Zone. The proposed industrial action was a response to the Dangote Refinery’s decision to deploy its own trucks for fuel distribution, a move the Western Zone claimed was an attempt at monopolization and a threat to tanker drivers’ jobs.

In a statement released on Sunday, IPMAN’s National Executive Council (NEC), led by its National Ex-Officio Douglas Iyike, urged all members to disregard the strike directive. Iyike clarified that the Western Zone does not have the constitutional power to call for such a widespread action, as that right is reserved for the NEC.

The national body of IPMAN is standing in full solidarity with the Dangote Refinery. The NEC’s statement argued that the refinery’s use of its own trucks is not only lawful under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) but is also a beneficial development for marketers. According to the NEC, this direct distribution model will free marketers from the burden of excessive levies and allow for business growth through more stable supply lines and potential credit arrangements.

The disagreement underscores a significant realignment within the country’s oil and gas sector as it transitions from a reliance on imported petroleum products to domestic refining. While the Western Zone has expressed concerns about job security for its members, the national body’s endorsement of the Dangote model signals a clear vote of confidence in the new framework and its potential to improve the efficiency and profitability of fuel distribution across Nigeria. The NEC emphasized that it would not allow a few individuals to disrupt the progress being made in the sector.