The new National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN), Mr Debo Ahmed, has said that insecurity throughout the country constitutes a serious threat to the oil and gas industry as well as to the Nigerian economy.

Speaking after he was sworn in at the association’s secretariat in Abuja, the IPMAN president expressed concern over the challenge, noting that it remains a matter of worry to the association.

Ahmed who succeeded the immediate past leader of the group, Sanusi Fari, while addressing the gathering of petroleum marketers, however acknowledged efforts by security agencies to surmount the challenge and guarantee security of lives and property.

The new IPMAN chief also called on the downstream oil sector operators to come to terms with the reality of full deregulation of the oil sector, driven by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
He assured his members that his leadership would accord full priority to their welfare in the volatile oil sector.