The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has given a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to pay outstanding bridging claims amounting to N100 billion.
IPMAN warned that its members would withdraw their services nationwide if the payment is not made within the given period.
The ultimatum comes after the NMDPRA allegedly failed to settle the debt despite promising to do so 40 days ago in the presence of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the Chairman of the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum, Yahaya Alhasan, voiced his disappointment over the situation.
“If NMDPRA doesn’t pay our money within seven days, we are going to withdraw our services across the nation,” Alhasan said.
The unpaid claims, dating back to 2024, are funds deducted from marketers’ product payments for bridging allowances. These allowances help cover the cost of transporting petroleum products from depots to distant parts of the country to ensure price uniformity.
IPMAN has raised concerns about the unpaid claims since the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) was scrapped. The NMDPRA took over PEF’s assets and liabilities, but some marketers have accused the authority of refusing to clear the outstanding payments.
On the other hand, the NMDPRA has blamed the marketers for failing to present themselves for verification of the debts.
This back-and-forth has dragged on for years, though the Federal Government made part payments last year to calm the situation.
IPMAN’s latest threat raises fears of possible fuel shortages if the issue remains unresolved.
