The planned protest by members of independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Nsukka branch was on Tuesday averted following timely intervention of IPMAN Chairman, Enugu Depot Unit, Mr Chinedu Anyaso.
A member of IPMAN who pleaded anonymity for security reasons told our correspondent that the protest was meant to express their grievances on demolition of their filling stations.
” We wanted to carry out this protest because of the ongoing demolitions of some of our members Filing Stations along Opi – Obollo with bulldozer.
“As a result of the ongoing dualization of 9th Mile-
Otukpo–Makurdi road without prior notice to owners to remove their properties as well as tell them how government would compensate them.
He explained that without the intervention of their Enugu Depot Unit Chairman (Anyaso) they could have gone ahead to carry out the peaceful protest in Opi junction Nsukka on Tuesday to express their feelings.
Addressing members who have already mobilised themselves with their placards for the protest Anyaso appealed to them to suspend the protest to enable Executive of IPMAN to interface with Enugu State Government to know how to resolve the issue.
“From what our members said they are not against dualization of the road but they said government should have given them prior notice.
” To enable them to emove their properties as well as tell them how to compensate them since their Filling Stations were built based on approval from government.
“Yes what they are saying is correct but I pleaded with them to suspend the protest to enable me to reach out to government and see how the issue wiil be resolved.
” I am happy they listened to me and suspended the protest to give room for negotiation with government on how those affected will be compensated.
“Why intervened to stop the protest, I don’t want a situation whereby the peaceful protest will be hijacked by hoodlums who will start destroying and looting people’s goods and properties,”he said.
Anyaso said he had absolute confidence and trust in Gov.Peter Mbah of EnuguState and had no doubt that he would resolved the issue amicably.