The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has inaugurated its Bayelsa State chapter, with a charge to curb sharp practices, make quality products available to users, effective collaboration with authorities and sale of products according to approved pump price.
The national president of PETROAN, Dr. Billy Harry, while speaking during inauguration ceremony in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital described petroleum retail outlets owners as the most critical input to the stability of the economy.
According to him, PETROAN is not established as a rival to other sister associations but to serve as a unifying factor working together in making sure that there is quality petroleum product for Nigerians, adding that integrity and service above personal interest should be the watchword.
Harry noted that with the inauguration of Bayelsa chapter the economy of the state will begin to experience boom as members would expand on their existing business, assuring that the association has concluded plans to partner credible institutions to provide funds and ensure the availability of quality petroleum products for consumers.
He urged members to take advantage of the pronouncement by the minister of state for Petroleum on making gas the mainstay of the economy and the Federal Government’s deregulation policy by investing and making sure gas is available in retail outlets, stressing that PETROAN is at the main stream of reinventing, redirecting and re-energizing the economy through the retail outlets.
The national president while commending the state executive on the inauguration, hailed the choice of Taremi Dukumor as chairman, whom he described as a humble and hard working man.
He called on members to give the chairman total support and expressed the belief that the entire executive would serve diligently and honourably.
Also, the zonal chairman of PETROAN, Prince Sunny Nkpe, said that the inauguration of the Bayelsa chapter is the fourth in the series and signaled a new partnership and collaboration with NNPC, DPR, Weight and Measures as well as security agencies.
Prince Nkpe noted that the organization’s objectives include protection of members within the armbit of the law, availability of high quality petroleum products at reasonable price, to create a viable quality control arm in synergy and liaising with DPR to ensure that quality source is secured and ensure that differences that may arise in line of business are nip in the bud.
Earlier, state chairman of PETROAN, Taremi Dukumor, said that the formal inauguration of PETROAN in Bayelsa will herald a robust synergy with critical stakeholders and agencies of government, maintaining that the delivery of quality and affordable petroleum products will continue to be a top priority.
Dukumor enjoined owners of petroleum retail outlets in the state to identify with the association in order to move the body to greater heights, resolving not to compromise its obligations to government, stakeholders and the consuming public.