The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has asked Nigerians to prepare for the worst fuel crisis.
This is following the refusal of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to pay its members their bridging claims of N500 billion.
This was disclosed by the IPMAN chairman in Kano State, Bashir Danmalam, while speaking during a news conference in Kano State on Monday.
Danmallam called on the Federal Government to prevail on the agency to pay the debt, warning that if the FG does not intervene, it would lead to a serious fuel crisis in the country as the situation has resulted in only 5 per cent of marketers still remaining in the business.
He said, “NMDPRA is responsible for the payment of bridging claims otherwise known as transportation claims
“For failure of the NMDPRA to pay the outstanding claims for about nine months, many marketers cannot transport the product because their funds are not being paid. Despite the high price of diesel, they manage to supply the petroleum products nationwide.
“The resurfacing of fuel queues in Abuja is just a tip of the iceberg with regard to the petroleum scarcity.
“Out of 100 per cent, only five per cent of the marketers can supply the petroleum products because of the failure of NMDPRA to pay them.
“We are not agitating for transportation fee increase; we are only clamouring for payment of our bridging claims that is more than N500 billion,” he said.
