The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has constituted a 16-member caretaker committee to administer its Eastern Zone for the next three months.
The committee was inaugurated on Friday in Calabar, Cross River State, alongside a Calabar Depot Task Force saddled with monitoring, surveillance and intelligence-gathering duties in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
IPMAN National President, Abubakar Shettima, said the caretaker arrangement followed the death of the association’s Eastern Zonal Chairman, Larry Nworuh.
Shettima, who was represented at the event by the National Secretary, James Tor, explained that the National Executive Council arrived at the decision after consultations with relevant stakeholders.
According to him, the temporary leadership is intended to maintain stability and ensure smooth administration in the zone until a new zonal election is conducted.
He said the committee, headed by Nsikak Sunday, would be responsible for managing the affairs of the zone while working towards creating the right environment for a peaceful and credible election.
Shettima urged members of the association to prioritise cooperation, humility and inclusiveness, saying such values were essential to maintaining unity and advancing the interests of petroleum marketers in the region.
He also praised the Cross River Government for its efforts to create a conducive environment for businesses through infrastructure development and improved security.
In his response, Sunday described his emergence as the outcome of perseverance despite the challenges surrounding the formation of the committee.
He promised to operate an inclusive administration by engaging stakeholders and promoting peace, unity and cooperation throughout the 90-day tenure.
Sunday also assured members that the committee would work to rebuild trust and improve cohesion within the association.
Meanwhile, IPMAN’s National Coordinator for Monitoring, Surveillance and Intelligence, Nickson Ahanonu, charged members of the newly inaugurated task force to remain professional and resist any attempt to compromise their duties.
Ahanonu warned operatives against involvement in illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, petroleum product adulteration and other activities capable of undermining the petroleum sector in the region.
He further cautioned members against accepting bribes or collaborating with criminal groups, stressing that anyone found compromising the assignment would face both internal disciplinary measures and legal action.
He directed the Eastern Zonal Task Force Coordinator, Emmanuel Ogbonna, to ensure that members adhere strictly to IPMAN’s operational guidelines while maintaining accountability and professionalism.
Ahanonu also disclosed plans to investigate allegations of petroleum product smuggling around Calabar and work with relevant security agencies to identify and arrest those responsible.