The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has vowed to cripple the supply of petrol over non-payment of ₦200 billion bridging claims.

This comes following current nationwide scarcity which has seen prices of petrol surge to between N610 and N800 at the pump, and between N1000 and N1200 at black market, Channel television reports.

The association’s Unit Chairman and Spokesperson, Aba Depot, Mazi Oliver Okolo, in a statement on Tuesday, April 30, claimed that the debt is being owed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NMDPRA).

Okolo said NMDPRA failed to pay the ₦200bn debt despite a directive for payment from the Petroleum Minister (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri.

According to him, “We are extremely distressed and depressed by the laidback attitude of the leadership of the NMDPRA, towards the survival of our member’s businesses, arising from NMDPRA’s deliberate delay and refusal to offset the debt of over N200 Billion owed our members.