The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has threatened to stop the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, over non-payment of ₦200bn bridging claims.
The association’s unit Chairman and Spokesperson, Aba Depot, Mazi Oliver Okolo in a communique released after a press conference on Tuesday, Okolo said the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NMDPRA) failed to pay the ₦200bn debt despite a directive for payment from the Petroleum Minister (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri.
The IPMAN deport Chairman claimed that since the directive by the minister in February 2024, only ₦13bn had been paid to their members, saying that the unpaid claim had crippled their businesses.
“We are extremely distressed and depressed by the laidback attitude of the leadership of the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), towards the survival of our member’s businesses, arising from NMDPRA’s deliberate delay and refusal to offset the debt of over N200 Billion owed our members, which has consequently led to the deaths of many of our members and the unfortunate collapse of their businesses.”
He blamed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the sole importer of petroleum products, for the current nationwide petrol scarcity, adding that some of its members have “completely” shut down their businesses, and retrenched their employees.
Okolo also claimed that the NNPC Ltd imports the products, and supplies to private depots who then sell to them at exorbitant prices of between ₦820 and ₦950 per litre, adding that IPMAN members pay an extra ₦2m to transport it to other parts of the country, making it difficult for them to sell to Nigerians at the agreed pump price.
The IPMAN members called on President Bola Tinubu, to closely look into the matter, which according to them, is highly detrimental to their businesses and reverse it forthwith, as it is bound to impact negatively on the masses thereafter.
Similarly, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has threatened to withdraw service in one month in Anambra State.
This is coming after the state government has allegedly refused to pay the outstanding debt it owes IPMAN members.
The Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot, Mr Chinedu Anyaso, regretted that the Anambra state government has clearly refused to pay debt incurred as a result of supply of diesel and other services rendered to the government
