The Chairman of the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum, Yahaya Alhasan, has called out the Nigerian government for failing to settle a N100 billion bridging debt owed to petrol marketers.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Alhasan accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of reneging on its commitment to pay the debt within 40 days, a promise made in the presence of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
He revealed that the non-payment has left several Northern depots—including those in Jos, Gusau, Minna, Suleja, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Yola, and Maiduguri—completely paralyzed. IPMAN also criticized the imposition of a 5% levy on its members by the NMDPRA.“If NMDPRA doesn’t pay our money within seven days, we are going to withdraw our services across the nation,” Alhasan warned.
He expressed frustration that despite repeated demands for payment, the NMDPRA has continued to ignore them. He recounted that the agency had previously pledged to settle the debt during a stakeholders’ meeting held before the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) called off a strike. However, months have passed without any progress.
Alhasan emphasized that the funds in question were deducted from marketers at the point of payment for products to cover bridging allowances. He lamented that the delayed payment has led to severe consequences, including the deaths of some members, business closures, staff layoffs, and the takeover of assets by banks.
Another major concern raised by IPMAN is the introduction of several levies by the NMDPRA, particularly the 5% commission imposed on the sale of petrol stations. Alhasan questioned the agency’s authority to charge such a fee, likening it to a real estate business. He also criticized additional levies imposed on marketers for renovating their outlets, calling them unconstitutional and demanding their immediate suspension.
In response to NMDPRA’s continued inaction, Alhasan stated that IPMAN would collaborate with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and NARTO to take collective action. He warned that IPMAN members, who own a significant number of petroleum tankers, might be forced to halt loading operations to push for the settlement of their claims.
The association has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and resolve the dispute. They warned that if their demands are not met, they will take decisive action starting Monday, February 24, 2025. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Gombe Depot, Ibrahim Mohammed, expressed disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to fulfill its promise to clear the debt. Reports indicate that in January 2025, the government had assured marketers that the N100 billion bridging claim would be settled, but no payment has been made.
