The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Depot Chairmen Forum has given the federal government a seven-working-day ultimatum to settle outstanding bridging claims exceeding N100 billion.
In a communiqué issued on Monday in Abuja, the forum’s chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan, warned that if the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) fails to make the payment within the specified time, marketers will halt the loading and distribution of petroleum products across the country.
He stated, “If NMDPRA does not pay our money within seven working days, we are going to withdraw our services across the country. We will also withdraw our tanks from loading and discharging, and at the same time, lock all our stations nationwide.”
Alhassan expressed frustration that, despite a year passing since the initial demand, the NMDPRA has continued to ignore the request for payment.
He recalled that the NMDPRA had promised to settle the debt during a stakeholders’ meeting held on the eve of the last strike action declared by the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), related to the non-payment of the claims.
Alhassan emphasized, “We are extremely frustrated that one year after our last demand, requesting the payment of over N100 billion owed our members in bridging and NTA claims by the NMDPRA, the management of NMDPRA has deliberately ignored our request, even after making clear promises to pay us.”
He added, “One of those promises was made by the NMDPRA at the stakeholders’ meeting convened on the eve of the last strike action declared by NARTO. At that meeting, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) listed this same IPMAN bridging claims as part of their demands before the strike action would be called off.”
Furthermore, he said the NMDPRA had promised to offset the bridging claims within 40 days, a commitment made in the presence of the National Security Adviser, Mal. Nuhu Ribadu, and the DG of the DSS, Mr. Adeola Ajayi.
Alhassan lamented, “However, 40 days have turned into months, and there is still no hope of the payment.”
He noted that the nine Northern depots—Jos, Gusau, Minna, Suleja, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Yola, and Maiduguri depots—have been completely grounded due to this unresolved debt.
He reiterated, “For the avoidance of doubt, it is important to restate that the debt owed to us is money belonging to marketers, which was deducted from us at the point of payment for products to settle our bridging allowances.”
The forum chairman also expressed concern over the continuous negative impacts, including the deaths of some of their members, the closure of businesses, retrenchment of staff, and the take-over of business premises by commercial banks due to the NMDPRA’s refusal to pay the money.
Another pressing issue, according to Alhassan, is the NMDPRA’s imposition of several abnormal levies on members. He highlighted the 5% commission imposed on the sale of petrol station outlets as the most concerning.
He questioned, “When did the NMDPRA become real estate agents, collecting a commission on the sales of retail petrol outlets? The downstream retail industry is constantly evolving, and as IPMAN members, we go the extra mile to renovate our outlets to meet international best practices. However, the NMDPRA has made this increasingly difficult by imposing bizarre levies on us whenever we undertake renovations.”
Alhassan continued, “These are just a few examples of the many distressing levies they have imposed on us. They are not only anti-developmental but also unconstitutional, and we are demanding their immediate suspension.”
He added, “As a forum of law-abiding Nigerians, we believe we have given the NMDPRA enough time to pay us our dues and clear the bridging claims. But in light of their constant refusal, we have decided to collaborate with our sister organizations—PTD and NARTO—to take collective action in due course.”
Alhassan pointed out that IPMAN members also own significant numbers of petroleum tankers operated by the PTD. He warned that they may be forced to withdraw their tankers from loading petroleum products to push for the immediate payment of bridging and NTA claims.
He called on the federal government, led by President Bola Tinubu, to fully intervene in the ongoing dispute between the Depot Chairmen of IPMAN and the NMDPRA.
“We will not hesitate to take immediate action in due course if our demands are not met, starting from today, Monday, 24th February 2025,” Alhassan warned.
He urged members across the country to remain resolute and law-abiding while waiting for their demands to be addressed by the NMDPRA.
