The Cross River Government on Thursday announced the lifting of the suspension of activities of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita, announced the lifting of the ban in a statement made available to journalists in Calabar.
Ita also said that the government henceforth recognised Mr. Robert Obi as the interim Chairman of (IPMAN), Calabar Deport Unit.
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According him, government’ action followed series of meetings by the adhoc committee set up to look into the lingering crisis in the union and the critical stakeholders, including IPMAN national Executive.
“Government, therefore, appeals to all the parties involved in the leadership dispute in the association to join hands in the effort to find lasting solution to the matter.
“All other issues shall be resolved shortly, ” the special adviser stated.
In his reaction, the National President of IPMAN , Engr. Sanusi Fari, commended the state government for its conscientious efforts towards resolving the lingering crisis in the association in Calabar depot.
Fari also commended the state government for recognising Obi as the interim chairman, pending the conduct of elections in the association.
He said that government’s prompt response to the yearnings of the independent marketers in Cross River and Akwa Ibom had restored normalcy to the association.
IPMAN national president said the state government’s intervention had also resulted in effective and efficient distribution of petroleum products across the two states.
He called on all the stakeholders in the sector, including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), to support the current moves to resolve all disputes in the association.
It will be recalled that IPMAN, Calabar depot unit, had been factionalised over leadership tussle in the last three months, leading to perennial fuel scarcity in Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
This prompted the intervention of the state government. (NAN)