The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to settle outstanding bridging claims totalling ₦100 billion.
Failure to address this debt will result in IPMAN members halting operations nationwide, potentially leading to significant disruptions in fuel distribution across the country.
This ultimatum follows NMDPRA’s unfulfilled promise to clear the debt within 40 days, a commitment made during a stakeholders’ meeting attended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi.
The unpaid claims, dating back to 2024, have severely impacted IPMAN members, leading to business closures, staff layoffs, and financial distress.
IPMAN’s Chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan, emphasized that the funds in question were deducted from marketers’ payments to cover bridging allowances.
He also criticized NMDPRA for introducing additional levies, such as a 5% commission on the sale of petrol stations, which he described as exploitative.
Alhassan warned that if the debt remains unpaid, IPMAN, in collaboration with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) union, will take collective action, including withdrawing tankers from loading petroleum products.
The potential shutdown of operations by IPMAN could lead to nationwide fuel scarcity, affecting both consumers and businesses.
The association has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene promptly to prevent further disruptions in the petroleum sector.
