The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has told Nigerians to prepare for the worst fuel scarcity that may soon hit the country.
The alarm was raised by the Kano State Chapter Chairman of IPMAN, Bashir Danmalam, during a press conference on Monday.
According to Bashir, the only way to avert the impending fuel scarcity is for the Federal Government to prevail on the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to pay IPMAN members outstanding bridging claims of over N500 billion.
He lamented how the non-payment of the transportation claims by the agency had forced many marketers out of business because they couldn’t transport the commodity owing to the high cost of diesel.
He said the non-payment of the over eight months bridge claims made it difficult for members to transport the commodity even though it was readily available.
Bashir, who told Nigerian not to blame the petrol marketers when the looming fuel scarcity bites hard, said;
“NMDPRA is responsible for the payment of bridging claims otherwise known as transportation claims
“Out of 100 percent, only five percent of the marketers can supply the petroleum products because of the failure of NMDPRA to pay them.”
He added, “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 fund. This Petroleum Equalisation Fund is our own money we contribute to each liter. This agency is doing more harm than good to us,” Danmalam said.
“We are not agitating for a transportation fee increase, we are only clamoring for payment of our bridging claims that is over N500 billion.”
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