The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has issued 21 days strike notice to the Cross River and Akwa Ibom state governments u to intervene on the deplorable state of the Calabar-Itu highway.

The Calabar unit of IPMAN in a letter dated March 6, 2026 and signed by the chairman and Secretary of IPMAN, Mr Robert Obi, and Mr Victor Nnanna, respectively, said failure to intervene on the road would see the total shutdown of operations in both States.

IPMAN’s letter says at the expiration of it’s ultimatum, tank farms, depots, and filling stations in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States would be shutdown should the government fail to address their grievances.

The petroleum marketers noted that their business had been severely hampered by the total collapse highway.

“We are calling for urgent intervention to save our members from further setbacks.

“Most of our members from Akwa Ibom and other nearby states of Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu are no more in Oil business owing to the unexpected colossal financial loses incurred as a result of the state of the road.

“It is common knowledge that so many Petroleum tanker trucks with Petroleum products from Calabar belonging to our members were lost to accidents on this road.

“Trucks coming to Calabar to transact with NNPCL and other private tank farms located in Calabar suffered the same fate of loosing several millions of naira In this hard times.

“Petroleum business in Calabar depots, serving Cross river and Akwa Ibom States has nose-dived as most marketers outside Calabar no longer come to Calabar to patronize the tank farms for fear of loosing their trucks and hard earned resources,” it laments.

Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers ( NUPENG) said the challenge of transporting petroleum products through Calabar-Itu highway has become an enormous responsibility for its members.

In a letter by Mr Joseph Okafor, zonal PTD Chairman, Port Harcourt zone, and the Zonal Secretary, Dr Kalu Eke, said the condition of the highway at the moment is considered a time bomb to it’s members carrying products to other parts of the country.

“For decades, the Calabar-Itu Highway has become a pain as it has affected economic activities between Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, and Enugu States.

“The deplorable road condition has led to loss of a good number of drivers, loss of substantial revenue to the union and even to the government,” NUPENG said. (The Sun)

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