Fuel scarcity looms in Cross River State as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Cross River state chapter, has threatened to go on strike over non supply of kerosene (DPK) to Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation depot in Calabar.

The association said it was unacceptable that kerosene has not been supplied to NNPC Calabar depot for over 25 years even as they bring in millions of litres of the product to private tank farms in Calabar.

Speaking during a courtesy visit on the management of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, in Calabar, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of IPMAN, Comrade Robert Obi, noted that bringing PMS (petrol) alone is bad business for independent marketers.

According to Obi, marketers in the Calabar depot have gone through hell while sourcing for kerosene to sell.

He appealed for the supply of three  products, PMS,  DPK and AGO to enable them serve their customers in  Cross River and Akwa Ibom states as well as break even.

“We are not asking for  millions of litres of kerosene for free. We will pay for it. We are going to set up our IPMAN marine task force. We have mobilised our task force with speed boats made up of two horses power machines to monitor when this product arrives.

“And if all entreaties fail, we have no option than to embark on an indefinite strike to press home our demands and alert the federal government of what has been happening in NNPC depot Calabar.”

On equalization funds, the Chairman said it was time their members started benefiting from this transportation arrangement put in place to assist marketers.

Obi said it has become necessary for the scheme to be implemented to alleviate the sufferings of IPMAN members doing business in the state, adding that marketers can no longer cope, especially marketers loading products in Calabar to market in Ogoja and Obanliku axis which is over 300 kilometres away.

In his reaction, the Operation Controller of DPR in the State, Philip Awolu, assured IPMAN of its cooperation so long as the activities of the association do not go contrary to the laws governing sales and marketing of petroleum products.

He warned that DPR would not fail to deal decisively with any member of the association that errs.