Nigeria Faces Fuel Scarcity as Marketers Threaten Shutdown Over N100bn Debt

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerian government, threatening to halt services nationwide due to the non-payment of N100 billion in bridging claims.

The dispute began after the NMDPRA’s failure to honour a commitment made in January 2025 to resolve the N100 billion debt owed to petrol marketers.

Yahaya Alhasan, Chairman of the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum, made the announcement during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, outlining the association’s frustration with the government’s failure to resolve the outstanding debt.

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According to Alhasan, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) had promised to settle the debt within 40 days, but more than a month later, no payment has been made. The debt has left numerous northern depots, including those in Jos, Gusau, Minna, Suleja, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Yola, and Maiduguri, completely shutdown.

Alhasan stressed that the debt, which was deducted from marketers at the point of product purchase to cover bridging allowances, remains unpaid, severely impacting businesses. He highlighted that this has led to business closures, staff layoffs, and the seizure of assets by commercial banks.

The IPMAN leader also condemned the NMDPRA for imposing a 5 percent levy on members for the sale of petrol station outlets, questioning the agency’s role in such transactions.

Additionally, he criticized the authority for imposing other unreasonably high levies on renovations of petrol stations, which he described as unconstitutional and anti-development.

Alhasan called for immediate suspension of these levies and demanded that the NMDPRA pay the outstanding claims in full.

He further warned that, should the government fail to meet their demands, IPMAN would work alongside other groups such as the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to take collective action, potentially including the withdrawal of tankers from fuel depots.

In a statement, IPMAN urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the dispute and ensure the NMDPRA settles the debt.

“We will not hesitate to take immediate action if our demands are not met by Monday, February 24, 2025,” the statement concluded.

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