The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Depot Chairmen’s forum has threatened disruptions in the supply and sales of PMS due to delayed payment of over ₦200bn Bridging Claims.
The representative of the association, Mr. Oliver Okolo, who serves as the Unit Chairman and Spokesperson, stated that their position on the current matter has the support of the national leadership. He specified that the unpaid debt is attributed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NMDPRA).
“It is with a total sense of dismay and deep frustration that we have assembled here today, as the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum. We are extremely distressed and depressed by the laidback attitude of the leadership of the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), towards the survival of our member’s businesses, arising from NMDPRA’s deliberate delay and refusal in offsetting the debt of over N200 Billion owed our members, which has consequently led to the deaths of many of our members and the unfortunate collapse of their businesses,” he said.
‘Laidback attitude’
IPMAN expressed dismay and deep frustration over what it described as the laidback attitude of the leadership of the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), towards the survival of its member’s businesses.
“It is also disheartening to note that some of our members have completely shut down their businesses and retrenched their employees as we are no longer able to pay salaries. As businessmen and women, our members acquired bank loans to keep their fuel retail outlets running on a daily basis across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, in order to serve the teeming population of Nigerians. However, it is demoralizing to know that many of our members have gone bankrupt and have become financially insolvent as a result of their inability to meet their financial obligations to their banks,” he said.
Support and encouragement
IPMAN leadership said they expected to receive support and encouragement from the Federal government as indigenous organizations, and Depot Chairmen, rather they are being discouraged owing to government’s failure to fulfil its obligations toward them.
“It is noteworthy to recall and state here that at a stakeholders’ meeting held on the 20th of February, 2024 with Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), and the NSA Nuhu Ribadu, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Authority of NMDPRA, was mandated by Mr. Heinehken Lokpobiri to clear the entire debt in 40 days. However today, we have crossed the 40-day time lapse given to the NMDPRA to clear the debt, and it is shameful to state that only the paltry sum of N13 billion has been paid, without recourse to the Minister’s directive,” he lamented.
Also Read: Oil Marketers Assure Nigerians Of No Plans To Hike Fuel
Call for presidential intervention
IPMAN members called on President Bola Tinubu, to closely look into this unwholesome figure, which is highly detrimental to their business and reverse it, as it is bound to negatively impact the masses thereafter.
“We are appealing to Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to please intervene in this quagmire that we have been subjected to by the NMDPRA. We repeat, if our demands are not met within the shortest period of time, we have already put our members on standby across the nation, as law abiding citizens, we are collectively prepared to withdraw our services, close every single outlet, and suspend lifting of products forthwith till our demands are fully met, and the consequences will be terrible. As every marketer’s outlet across Nigeria, from the North to the South, and from the East to the West, will be shut down,” he added.
Withdrawal of services
IPMAN however, threatened that if the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) did not take steps to offset the debt owed them, the organization would withdraw their services, which may cripple economic activities in the country.
“We are poised to take far-reaching decisions that may cripple the supply and sales of petroleum products across Nigeria, if our demands are not met within the shortest period of time. More so, this money in question that the marketers are asking for is our monies set aside, collected from us, and deducted from our own monies, to augment our transport fares. We are merely asking for the return of our monies that is in the purse of the NMDPRA,” he said.
Scarcity of PMS products
IPMAN decried the current scarcity of petrol in major cities in the country and blamed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) for the situation.
“We would like to categorically state that the scarcity of PMS products is wholly triggered by the NNPC and not by IPMAN or her members. Contrary to claims that IPMAN members are hoarding PMS products, we make bold to say that NNPC are the sole importers of PMS products, and therefore the sole cause of the present PMS scarcity in Nigeria,” he stated.
It called on all its members to remain law-abiding, adding that they are pained by the non-availability of petroleum products in the country, which has given rise to another round of untold hardship for Nigerians.
