The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Western Zone, says its members will halt operations across the South West from Monday, September 8, in protest against alleged attempts by Dangote Refinery and MRS Energy Ltd to dominate fuel distribution.

The resolution was reached on Saturday at a zonal meeting in Ibadan, which brought together IPMAN executives, depot chairmen, and council members from the region.

Speaking after the meeting, the Chairman of IPMAN Western Zone, Chief Oyewole Akanni, said the move by Dangote Refinery and MRS to directly distribute petrol and other products poses a serious threat to independent marketers who currently manage over 4,000 trucks.

Akanni warned that many members’ investments could be wiped out, while thousands of tanker drivers and support workers risk losing their jobs. He also accused the companies of breaching the Petroleum Industry Act, which separates refining from retail distribution.

The strike is also meant to support the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which has expressed fears over the job security of petroleum tanker drivers. IPMAN said all its members in the South West must comply, ensuring that filling stations remain closed from Monday until further notice.

Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery is pressing ahead with a nationwide fuel supply scheme backed by 4,000 new trucks. The company says the initiative, part of a N720 billion investment, will cut distribution costs, revive dormant filling stations, and create jobs in the logistics chain. It is also expected to supply Nigeria’s daily fuel demand of 65 million litres across petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel.

Industry observers warn that the looming shutdown could disrupt fuel availability in the South West if no compromise is reached between the parties.