The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime to settle the N40 billion debt it owes the association.

IPMAN said the debt arose from haulage of petroleum products to Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and parts of Katsina states by its members.

“It has been 11 months now that the Federal Government has not paid our members. This money is not a subsidy claim.

“It is the cost of our individual contributions to fuel distribution based on agreement entered with the government,” Surajo Yahaya-Kamba, IPMAN branch chairman at Gusau Depot, who supervises operations in the states, said after a meeting with members in Sokoto.

Mr Yahaya-Kamba said the agreement signed between the association and the Buhari regime was for the latter to pay fuel haulage claims weekly.

“The marketers contribute certain percentage and the importers also made their own contribution to the haulage charges; we wonder why the government will not pay our money,” he said.

Mr Yahaya-Kamba noted that many haulage firms would soon go out of business if payment of the debts lingered further.

The meeting was attended by IPMAN members and members of the National Association of Road Transport Owners from the four states.

(NAN)