Fear of fuel scarcity grips northern states as IPMAN shuts NNPC depots

There is a palpable fear of yet another lingering fuel scarcity as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, commences the picketing of nine northern depots of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, over the non-payment of accumulated transportation money.

The association’s members, who thronged the Kano NNPC depot as early as 7 am on Monday, promised to lock down all the depots in the north for three days until their dues were paid.

Speaking, the Secretary of the Association, Alhaji Gana Girgire, said the government owes them unpaid transportation accumulated money for 10 months, and nobody is talking to them about the payments.

He said apart from the non-payment of the transportation accumulated money; their members face serious problems of lack of good roads after loading from the south and insecurities.

Gana hints that the prices of trailer tires have skyrocketed, and they had to struggle when their tires are damaged because of bad roads.

“For these and many more reasons we are embarking on this three-day picketing and protests till our money are paid,” he added.