The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it disbursed a total of N103,037,183,922.91 bridging claims to oil marketers between December 2021 and August 2022.

The authority disclosed this at the end of its meeting with the Northern Independent Petroleum Marketers Forum (NIPMF) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd.) officials on Tuesday in Abuja.

The forum had threatened to withdraw services due to accumulated unpaid bridging claims.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) across nine northern states had on Monday embarked on a three-day warning strike over the non-payment of their bridging claims.

The NMDPRA, in a statement, said it would fast-track the settlement of all outstanding claims when received from marketers after due verification and reconciliation.

It reiterated that payment of bridging claims was an ongoing process, and payments were disbursed as they were received from marketers.

“The meeting is in line with NMDPRA mandate to collaborate with industry stakeholders in ensuring uninterrupted supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) throughout the nation,” it stated. “The meeting addressed issues regarding bridging claims and other matters. NIPMF has agreed to work with the NMDPRA to ensure free flow of petroleum products nationwide.” 

The NMDPRA affirmed that it would continue carrying out its mandate as stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), aimed at promoting and ensuring continuous and efficient operations of Nigeria’s midstream and downstream sectors. 

(NAN)