OIL MARKETERS HAVE WARNED NIGERIA COULD WITNESS “THE MOTHER OF ALL QUEUES” FROM NEXT WEEK IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FAILS TO PAY THE 12 MONTHS BRIDGING CLAIMS BEING OWED OPERATORS IN THE DOWNSTREAM OIL SECTOR.

DEALERS UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM MARKETERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, WHICH CONTROLS ABOUT 70 PER CENT OF FILLING STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ALSO DENIED BEING PAID N74BN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS BRIDGING CLAIMS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH ITS NIGERIA MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM PETROLEUM REGULATORY AUTHORITY SAID IT PAID N74BN AS BRIDGING CLAIMS TO OIL MARKETERS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN SEVEN MONTHS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAID WHILE REACTING TO ALLEGATIONS MADE BY IPMAN, SULEJA BRANCH, THAT THE SCARCITY OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IN NIGERIA WAS DUE TO THE NON-PAYMENT OF BRIDGING CLAIMS.