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 ?200bn bridging claims.
The threat comes following current nationwide scarcity which has seen prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, surge to between N610 and N800 at the pump, and between N1000 and N1200 at black market.
The association’s Unit Chairman and Spokesperson, Aba Depot, Oliver Okolo, who made the threat, said it was with the backing of the IPMAN’s national leadership.
He 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 yesterday, Okolo said NMDPRA failed to pay the ?200bn debt despite a directive for payment from the Petroleum Minister (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri.
The IPMAN depot Chairman claimed that since the directive by the minister in February 2024, only ?13bn had been paid to their members, saying that the unpaid claim had crippled their businesses.
“We are extremely distressed and depressed by the laid-back attitude of the leadership of the 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 blamed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the sole importer of petroleum products, for the current nationwide petrol scarcity, adding that some of its members have “completely” shut down their businesses, and retrenched their employees.
Okolo also claimed that the NNPC Ltd imports the products, and supplies to private depots who then sell to them at exorbitant prices of between ?820 and ?950 per litre, adding that IPMAN members pay an extra ?2million to transport it to other parts of the country, making it difficult for them to sell to Nigerians at the agreed pump price.
The IPMAN members called on President Bola Tinubu to closely look into the matter, which according to them, is highly detrimental to their businesses and reverse it forthwith, as it is bound to impact negatively on the masses thereafter.
“We see no reason why there should be an increment of over 500% on the Sales and Storage License by the NMDPRA. We totally reject it. We also hereby call on the Federal Government to wholly intervene forthwith in these lingering issues between the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN) and the NMDPRA.
“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”, the group warned.
