By Emmanuel Ndukuba
Awka, May 22, 2024 – The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has raised concern over the decision of the Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA) to disregard the agreement it had with the state government on a consolidated annual levy.
Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot said the signage agency had been harassing marketers in the state with court summons.
Anyaso said based on the renegotiated agreement, every filling station would pay the sum of N120,000 per year and that members had paid up to 2023.
He said items covered included Business Premises, Sanitation Levy, Fire Service Fees Tenement/Property Rate, Environment Audit Report, Billboard and Advertising Fees.
Anyaso said ANSAA had promised to stop issuing court summons to members and also withdrew those issued in 2023.
“Subsequently, the meeting was held on July 6, 2022, at the office of Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources between IPMAN and Anambra state government officials including AIRS and Office of the Accountant General.
“Based on the foregoing, we directed our members to ensure strict compliance to the agreement and they have made these payments for the years 2022 and 2023.
“Since your assumption of office, you have kept harassing our members with court summons, surprisingly, this matter is coming up again at this time when our association is enjoying a cordial business relationship with the Anambra Government,” he said
ANSAA had in a letter to IPMAN threatened to pull down filling station signages in the state for alleged failure to pay advertising fees.
According to Mr Tony Ujubuonu, MD of ANSAA who signed the letter, IPMAN had repeatedly ignored communications to them and unwilling to comply with
signage regulations,
“We are left with no alternative but to initiate enforcement of the law establishing ANSAA by removing all signage associated with all members of your organization,” he said.
Ujubuonu said the agency was not party to the agreement the state government entered with IPMAN, adding that the amount meant for signage was grossly inadequate.
