The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to settle outstanding bridging claims amounting to ₦100 billion or face a nationwide withdrawal of services.
IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum Chairman, Yahaya Alhasan, made this announcement during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, expressing frustration over the government’s failure to fulfil its promise despite a 40-day commitment made in the presence of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and DG DSS Adeola Ajayi.
He stated: “If NMDPRA doesn’t pay our money within seven days, we are going to withdraw our services across the nation.”
Alhasan accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of failing to clear its ₦100 billion bridging debt owed to petrol marketers, despite promising to do so in the presence of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the DG DSS, Adeola Ajayi.
“We are extremely frustrated that one year after our last demand as a forum, requesting the payment of over N100 billion owed to our members in bridging and NTA claims by the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, the management of the NMDPRA has deliberately ignored our request, even after making clear promises to pay us.”
Alhasan revealed that several northern depots—including Jos, Gusau, Minna, Suleja, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Yola, and Maiduguri—have been completely grounded due to the prolonged non-payment. He lamented the economic toll on marketers, citing business closures, staff layoffs, and asset seizures by banks.
“One of those promises was made by the NMDPRA at the stakeholders’ meeting convened on the eve of the last strike action declared by NARTO. At that stakeholders’ meeting, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, listed this same IPMAN bridging claim as part of their demands before the strike action would be called off.”
“The NMDPRA promised to offset the bridging claims in 40 days, even in the presence of the National Security Adviser, Mal. Nuhu Ribadu, and the DG DSS, Mr. Adeola Ajayi. However, 40 days have today become months with no hope of our payment.”
Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Alhasan reiterated that the money owed to marketers had been deducted at the point of payment for products to settle bridging allowances.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is imperative to state again that this debt being owed to us is money belonging to marketers, which was deducted from us at the point of payment for products to settle our bridging allowances.”
He also highlighted the devastating impact on marketers, noting: “We have also continued to record the deaths of our members, the closure of their businesses, the retrenchment of staff, and the takeover of their business premises by commercial banks, all arising from this refusal of the NMDPRA to pay us our money.”
With the ultimatum in place, Nigerians may face severe fuel scarcity if the government fails to meet IPMAN’s demands within the given timeframe.