Nigeria may soon face a severe petrol scarcity as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw its services nationwide.
The association is protesting the government's failure to settle outstanding bridging claims amounting to N100 billion.
The Chairman of the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum, Yahaya Alhasan, made this announcement during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, accusing the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of defaulting on its payment promise.
According to Alhasan, the government had pledged to clear the debt within 40 days in the presence of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi. However, months have passed without any progress.
The prolonged debt crisis has crippled northern depots, including those in Jos, Gusau, Minna, Suleja, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Yola, and Maiduguri, disrupting fuel distribution across the country.
IPMAN also raised concerns over the NMDPRA’s imposition of a 5 percent levy on fuel station sales, describing it as an exploitative and unconstitutional policy.
Alhasan criticized the regulatory body for allegedly frustrating marketers with excessive levies, which he claimed have led to business closures, staff retrenchments, and mounting financial losses for operators.
“As law-abiding Nigerians, we have given the NMDPRA enough time to settle this debt. However, if our money is not paid in full within seven days, we will be forced to withdraw our services nationwide,” Alhasan declared.
The association is now working closely with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to take collective action.
If their demands are not met, fuel distribution could grind to a halt, leading to an acute petrol shortage across Nigeria.
The group has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently, warning that failure to address their concerns could plunge the country into a fuel crisis beginning Monday, February 24, 2025.
IPMAN’s ultimatum comes after repeated broken promises from the federal government, which had assured marketers in January 2025 that the debt would be cleared.
With tensions rising, Nigerians could face long queues at fuel stations in the coming days if the standoff is not resolved.