By NewsMata
The Depot Chairmen Forum of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has threatened to shut down operations over the failure of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to pay a N100 billion debt owed to its members.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum, Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan, the group accused NMDPRA of failing to honor an agreement reached with them last year regarding the payment of the debt.
“We are extremely frustrated that one year after our last demand as a forum, requesting the payment of over N100 billion owed our members in bridging and NTA claims by the NMDPRA, the management has deliberately ignored our request, even after making clear promises to pay us.”
Alhassan revealed that NMDPRA had promised to offset the debt within 40 days during a stakeholders’ meeting convened before the last strike action by the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
“At that meeting, NARTO listed IPMAN’s bridging claims as part of their demands before the strike was called off. The NMDPRA, in the presence of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the DG DSS, Mr. Adeola Ajayi, assured us that payments would be made within 40 days. However, months have passed, and there is still no hope of receiving our payments.”
As a result of the unpaid debt, nine Northern depots have become completely grounded, including those in: Jos, Gusau, Minna, Suleja, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Yola and Maiduguri.
The IPMAN Chairman stressed that the unpaid funds belong to petroleum marketers and were deducted at the point of product payments to settle bridging allowances.
“We have recorded deaths of our members, business closures, staff retrenchments, and even the takeover of business premises by commercial banks—all because of NMDPRA’s refusal to pay us.”
He also accused NMDPRA of introducing multiple abnormal levies, including a 5% commission on the sale of petrol stations, describing it as an exploitative practice.
“Tell me, when did NMDPRA become a real estate agency, collecting commissions on petrol station sales? This is completely unacceptable.”
Alhassan added that NMDPRA’s regulatory actions have made it increasingly difficult for marketers to renovate their petrol stations, as they are now subjected to bizarre levies whenever they attempt to upgrade their facilities.
Alhassan warned that if the debt is not settled immediately, IPMAN members, in collaboration with NARTO and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) union, would take collective action.
“As law-abiding Nigerians, we have given NMDPRA enough time to settle our bridging claims. Since they have refused to pay, we are now liaising with our sister organizations—PTD and NARTO—to take decisive action.”
“As IPMAN members, we own a sizable number of petroleum tankers operated by the PTD. If necessary, we will withdraw our tankers from loading petroleum products to enforce our demands.”
IPMAN has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and resolve the dispute.
“We urge the Federal Government to fully intervene in this prolonged issue between IPMAN and NMDPRA. If our demands are not met immediately, we will not hesitate to take necessary actions starting from Monday, February 24, 2025.”
With tensions rising in the petroleum sector, a potential shutdown by IPMAN could significantly impact fuel distribution and availability across the country.
(Credit Vanguard but headline rejigged)