A seven-day ultimatum has been issued by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to settle unpaid bridging claims amounting to N100 billion.
The association warned that failure to meet the deadline would result in the withdrawal of its services, a move that could lead to a nationwide scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
This development follows the NMDPRA’s failure to fulfil its promise, made 40 days ago in the presence of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to clear the debt.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Chairman of the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum, Yahaya Alhasan, expressed frustration over the regulatory agency’s inability to honour its financial commitment.
He stated that the unpaid claims, which date back to 2024, were deducted from marketers’ payments for products to cover bridging allowances.
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“If NMDPRA doesn’t pay our money within seven days, we are going to withdraw our services across the nation,” Alhasan warned, emphasizing the potential repercussions on fuel supply.
Bridging claims are payments made to petroleum marketers to cover transportation costs for fuel distribution across the country.
The non-payment of these claims has reportedly affected the operations of marketers, leading to concerns about a possible disruption in the fuel supply chain.
Industry stakeholders have called on the government to intervene urgently to prevent an impending fuel crisis. The NMDPRA has yet to respond to the ultimatum issued by IPMAN.
