April 30, (THEWILL) – The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has threatened to cripple the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, over non-payment of ₦200 billion bridging claims.
The association’s Unit Chairman and Spokesperson, Aba Depot, Mazi Oliver Okolo, who issued the threat on Tuesday, claimed that the debt is being owed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NMDPRA).
In a communique released after a press conference on Tuesday, Okolo condemned the NMDPRA for failing to pay the ₦200bn debt despite a directive from the Petroleum Minister (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri.
“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 to offset 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, adding that since the directive by the minister in February 2024, only ₦13 billion had been paid to their members.
Okolo, who blamed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), for the current petrol scarcity, said some of its members have “completely” shut down their businesses, and retrenched their employees.
“We have watched with apprehension also, the unpatriotic attitude of the leadership of the NMDPRA to offset this debt that has been accrued to us since September 2022. As businessmen and women, our members acquired bank loans to keep their fuel retail outlets running daily across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, to serve the teeming population of Nigerians.
“However, it is demoralising 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, arising wholly from their inability to get their monies from the NMDPRA.
“Consequently, also, the banks have taken over the business premises of many of our members. As indigenous organisations, and Depot Chairmen, we are unhappy that rather than receiving support from the government to boost our businesses, we are being discouraged, by the head of NMDPRA.
“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 Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil) and the NSA Nuhu Ribadu, Engr Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Authority of NMDPRA, was mandated by Mr Heineken 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, thus going the whole length to ignore our plight without remorse and without recourse to the Honourable Minister’s directive”, the statement said.
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