IPMAN Threatens To Suspend Operations In Anambra Over N900m Debt  

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has threatened to suspend its operations in Anambra State due to the state government’s failure to pay contractors the sum of N900 million owed to them for supplying Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) used to power streetlights before the project was terminated.

Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of the IPMAN Enugu Depot Community responsible for Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu states, made this announcement in Awka on Friday.

Anyaso clarified that upon the Anambra State Government’s termination of the contract to supply AGO for streetlights and the subsequent directive to return all generators in their possession, the contractors complied. Despite returning the generators as instructed, the Chukwuma Soludo-led administration has yet to settle the N900,664,805 debt owed to the contractors.

This delay has caused severe financial strain on the marketers contracted, leading to substantial indebtedness to their creditors and significant disruption to their businesses due to the tied-up capital.

Anyaso also said that IPMAN had formally notified the Anambra government about meeting the specified conditions to facilitate payment to the marketers.

The IPMAN general assembly’s demands regarding the diesel supplied and services provided for streetlights have not received a response from the Anambra government.

A letter titled “Request For Debt Payment of N900,664,805.00 Owed to Our Members for Diesel Supplied and Services Rendered in Respect Of Street Lights,” addressed to the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs, read, “We refer to your response on the above subject, dated Nov. 3 on the report of some vendors that are yet to return some of the Government-owned generator sets allotted to them for the street lights projects.

“Be informed, Sir, that all the generators have been fully returned to the Government.

“We, therefore, humbly request that the debt payments owed our members for diesel supplied and services rendered be treated and paid as promised.”