N500bn claims: Marketers warn of imminent worst fuel scarcity

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has warned of imminent worst fuel scarcity in the country as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) failed to settle its members bridging claims of N500 billion.

IPMAN Chairman Kano State Chapter, Bashir Danmalam, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Kano on Tuesday.

Danmalam, who stated that failure to pay oil marketers their transportation claims has pushed a lot of its members out of business.

“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,” Danmalam said.

NNPC: Why fuel queues return to Abuja

He further noted that the current resurfacing of queues in some places including Abuja is just a minor sign of a great challenge.

“The resurfacing of fuel queues in Abuja is just a tip of the iceberg with regard to the petroleum scarcity. Only five per cent of the marketers can supply the petroleum products because of the failure of NMDPRA to pay them,” he stated.

The chairman, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to save the situation before it culminates into serious problem across the country.

“As leaders, we have to come out to say the truth because our members are suffering from the failure of the agency to pay the funds. This Petroleum Equalisation Fund is our own money we contribute to each litre. This agency is doing more harm than good to us.

“We are not agitating for a transportation fee increase; we are only clamouring for payment of our bridging claims that is over N500 billion,” he added.

The Star observed that there are few queues at some filling stations in Kano.

The Star