Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Managing Director of Floxy Alu Oil Ltd, has been re-elected by members of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Enugu Unit as their chairman for the next three years.
Anyaso and his entire executive members were re-elected after a unanimous unopposed vote by the entire members in an election that took place in IPMAN House in Enugu.
In his acceptance speech, Anyaso appreciated members of the association for the confidence and trust repose on him and his entire executive to be re-elected and returned, adding: “My executive is first ever to enjoy this great privilege”.
Anyaso noted that the members of IPMAN had been a great pillar of support in the past three years in office, making it possible for the association to achieve some milestones.
According to him, the re-election is a call for more responsibility on our own part and to see that we ameliorate difficulties our members are facing in their businesses.
He said: “Since the removal of the fuel subsidy, our members have continued to find it difficult to survive the harsh business environment confronting all business concerns in the country.
“Even as we are struggling to keep business afloat and retain our workers, a state government in its quest to surge-up its internal revenue has come so hard on our individual members and their business outfits.
“This latest development also undermines agreement with various state governments that IPMAN would be paying a collective tax to the various state governments to ensure all member pay and check issues of over or multiple taxation.
“This is highly prevalent in Anambra State, where after we had an agreement with the state government; you still see ASWAMA, signage officials, even Ocha Brigade officials coming to demand money, arrest and detain our members and their workers.”
Anyaso said that the over taxation issue in Anambra might lead to its members down tooling and shutting down fuel selling operations in the state within the next two weeks.
He said: “All efforts to call the attention of the Anambra State Government on the issue have proved abortive and not yielded any fruit.
“Recently, some of our members having businesses in Anambra State were taken to court and jailed or given the option of fines due to their refusal to comply with illegal and over taxation,” he said.
The re-elected chairman also assured of furnishing the IPMAN House, adding: “Within the next six months, this house will be well furnished and the sweat you are experiencing today will never be again.”
Anyaso applauded Ebonyi and Enugu State Governments for cooperating and supporting IPMAN members and their activities as well as state governments of some parts of Imo, Abia, Kogi and Cross River States their members operate as well.
Earlier, Mr Pius Onyeka, Chairman of Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on Petroleum Matters, commended IPMAN for a very peaceful election, adding: “I will be glad if elections in Nigeria will go this very peaceful way”.
Onyeka assured that the House would continue to work cordially with IPMAN members to ensure availability of fuel in the state for the overall benefit of the good people of the state.
Speaking, the Grand Patron of IPMAN Enugu Unit, Chief Joseph Ezeokafor, also lauded IPMAN for working in unison and ensuring steady growth of the association within various states it covers.
“As you people are progressive; I will continue to support IPMAN; and do not fail to call on me if there is any difficulty you are facing for counsel and guidance,” Ezeokafor, Founder of JEZCO Nigeria Ltd, said.
Others re-elected included: Mr Ndubuisi Nwokwu as Vice Chairman; Mr Nnaemeka Iloafor as Secretary; Mr Ndubuisi Egbogota as Assistant Secretary; Emeka Onyima, as Treasurer and Mr Obinna Njoku as Financial Secretary.
Others are: Mr Isaiah Mbah as PRO; Mr Abdullahi Salami as Auditor; Chief Clement Nnamchi as Legal Adviser and Chief Austine Nkama as Ex-official.
