A fresh wave of fuel scarcity may hit Nigeria as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government, threatening to halt operations over unpaid bridging claims totaling N100 billion.
The Chairman of the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum, Yahaya Alhasan, made this announcement during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday. He accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of failing to fulfill its promise to clear the outstanding debt, despite assurances made in the presence of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi.
Alhasan warned that if the debt is not settled within the stipulated time, IPMAN members across the country will withdraw their services, which could result in a nationwide fuel crisis. He lamented that several depots, particularly in the North—including Jos, Gusau, Minna, Suleja, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Yola, and Maiduguri—have already been grounded due to the financial strain on marketers.
“For over a year, we have been demanding the payment of over N100 billion owed to our members. The NMDPRA had promised to clear these debts within 40 days, yet months have passed without any payment,” Alhasan stated.
He also condemned the imposition of a 5% levy on IPMAN members by the NMDPRA, calling it an “unconstitutional and anti-developmental” policy that has further crippled the operations of independent marketers.
In response, IPMAN has vowed to collaborate with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to enforce their demands, warning that fuel distribution could be severely disrupted if the issue is not addressed.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in this prolonged dispute. If our demands are not met by the deadline, we will have no choice but to suspend operations nationwide,” the statement read.
