*The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has聽 appealed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to pay its members their bridging claims of N500 billion in order to avoid another season of distressing fuel scarcity in the economy

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

For the West African country to avoid disruption in fuel distribution chain and attendant round of excruciating fuel scarcity situation soon, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has 聽appealed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to pay its members their bridging claims of N500 billion.

绿帽献妻 reports Alhaji Bashir Danmalam, Kano State Chairman of IPMAN, stated this Monday, May 9, 2022, at a press conference in Kano, urged the Federal Government to prevail on the regulatory agency to pay the debt.

Bridging claims is the cost of hauling petroleum products from refineries and depots to fuel stations.

Danmalam, however, warned the authorities that failure to pay marketers their outstanding claims could cause another disruption in fuel distribution.

Lamenting the debt has forced many IPMAN members out of business,聽 the IPMAN chief said: 鈥淭he non-payment of the debt for over eight months has crippled the businesses of many members as they cannot transport available petroleum products.

鈥淭he resurfacing of fuel queues in Abuja is just a tip of the iceberg.

鈥淥nly 5 percent of marketers are still in business.鈥�

He as well noted since the merging of the former Department of Petroleum Resources, Petroleum Equalisation Fund, and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency into the NMDPRA, the new agency had paid the fuel marketers only twice.

Danmalam urged the Federal Government to intervene before the situation degenerated into a serious fuel crisis spread to other parts of the country.

He said: 鈥淲e are not agitating for transportation fee increase; we are only clamouring for payment of our bridging claims that is more than N500 billion.鈥�