IPMAN Suspends Strike After Talks with Akwa Ibom Petroleum Committee

Here’s your story rewritten with a sharper

By Asuquo Edem

UYO — The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Akwa Ibom State has suspended its strike action less than 24 hours after it began, following a meeting with the state’s Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee (PPMC).

The strike, which started yesterday, was triggered by the impoundment of IPMAN trucks in Mbo Local Government Area in 2024. The industrial action led to fuel scarcity across the state, with supplies limited to major marketers such as NNPC, AP, Rain Oil, and A.A. Rano.

During a closed-door dialogue at Luton Park Hotels, Uyo, on Thursday, the PPMC, led by its chairman, Hon. Godwin Ekpo, met with IPMAN executives to broker peace.

Speaking after the meeting, IPMAN State Chairman, Comrade Francis Udoeyen, said the decision to suspend the strike was taken “in the interest of peace and stability” and to ease the burden on the public. He added that the association would continue engaging with relevant authorities to resolve the long-standing dispute over the seized trucks.

Udoeyen commended the PPMC for its intervention in restoring normalcy to fuel distribution in the state.

Also present at the meeting, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Sunny James, lauded IPMAN’s decision to return to work and pledged the NLC’s support for peaceful conflict resolution. He stressed that dialogue remains the best path to addressing issues affecting workers and the public.

With the suspension of the strike, petroleum product supply in Akwa Ibom is expected to return to normal in the coming days.

Comments

Akwa Ibom Assembly Bans Sign-Out Celebrations, Orders Immediate Enforcement Across Schools

By Asuquo Edem The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for the immediate prohibition of all forms of sign-out celebrations in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the state, citing growing concerns over moral decadence, violence, substance abuse and other anti-social behaviours associated with the practice. The resolution followed the consideration of a Motion on Notice sponsored by the Member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency, Hon. Udobia Friday Udo, during plenary. Leading debate on the motion, Hon. Udobia argued that while educational institutions are established to promote learning, discipline, moral values and responsible citizenship, the culture of sign-out celebrations by graduating students has increasingly degenerated into activities that undermine these ideals. According to him, what was once intended as a celebration of academic accomplishment has, in recent years, become synonymous with indecent dressin...

Breaking: A’Ibom Governor Removes Two Aides Amid Restructuring, Alleged PDP Links

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has relieved two aides of their duties with immediate effect, the state government announced on Monday. The affected officials are: Joseph Jacob Ikpak, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Support Services Felix Ekuri, Special Assistant to the Governor on Neighbourhood Watch Their disengagement was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah, who described the action as part of the governor’s ongoing efforts to realign the machinery of government with the Renewed Hope and ARISE Agenda. The statement did not provide further details on the circumstances leading to their removal. However, it was gathered from multiple political sources that the decision may be linked to the aides’ alleged association with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The claim has not been officially confirmed, and the government has not commented on the speculation. Political analysts no...

AKIRS secures N1.2b judgement against Ardent Energy Services LTD ....warns against tax evasion

The Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS) has secured a landmark judgement against Ardent Energy Services Ltd, an oil servicing company operating in Akwa Ibom State. In a judgement delivered on July 3, 2025 at the Revenue Court of Akwa Ibom State, Uyo, by the Presiding Revenue Judge, Maureen-Idongesit M. Udoka, the court ordered the defendant to pay to the Akwa Ibom State Government, the sum of N1.2bilion, including penalty and interest on the principal sum. The judgement was in consequence to Suit No. Rue/77C/2022, filed by AKIRS. With this judgement, which is a major milestone in AKIRS tax compliance drive, the agency warns taxpayers to willingly comply to their civic obligations of always paying their taxes as and when due as there was no hiding place for defaulters.

The Empire Naija

Search This Blog