Nigerians may soon face severe fuel shortages as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has given a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw services nationwide.
The group is protesting the government’s failure to pay ₦100 billion in bridging claims.
On Monday, Yahaya Alhasan, Chairman of the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum, raised concerns at a press conference in Abuja. He accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of failing to fulfill its promise of paying the debt within 40 days.
“If NMDPRA doesn’t pay our money within seven days, we are going to withdraw our services across the nation,” Alhasan warned.
He explained that the unpaid funds have completely shut down key fuel depots in the North, including those in Jos, Gusau, Minna, Suleja, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Yola, and Maiduguri.
Government’s Broken Promises
The dispute dates back to January 2025, when the government pledged to clear the outstanding ₦100 billion debt. The assurance was made at a stakeholders’ meeting attended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi.
“The NMDPRA promised to offset the bridging claims in 40 days, but months have passed with no payment,” Alhasan lamented.
The backlog of unpaid claims has forced many independent marketers to close their businesses. Some have lost their petrol stations to banks, while others have struggled to pay workers. The situation has also led to the deaths of several marketers due to financial hardship, according to IPMAN.
New Levies Add to Marketers’ Woes
IPMAN is also protesting against a 5% levy imposed by NMDPRA on petrol station sales. “When did NMDPRA turn into a real estate agency?” Alhasan questioned, calling the charge illegal.
In addition, marketers face high costs for renovating petrol stations, with NMDPRA allegedly imposing “bizarre levies” each time an upgrade is carried out.
Nationwide Fuel Supply at Risk
IPMAN is now working with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to enforce the payment of outstanding debts.
“We may be forced to withdraw our tankers from loading fuel,” Alhasan warned.
The group urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and resolve the crisis before fuel shortages hit the entire country. If their demands are not met, the strike may begin on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.
The Chairman of Gombe Depot, Ibrahim Mohammed, expressed disappointment over the government’s inaction. “This debt has crippled our businesses. We cannot continue like this,” he said.
Nigerians now face the possibility of long fuel queues, price hikes, and economic disruptions if the issue remains unresolved.
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