By Ikemefuna Asika, Awka
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has threatened to shut down operations in Anambra State in a bid to recover debts owed her members by Anambra State government.
The debt amounting to about N900 millon Naira was for the supply of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) also known as Diesel used to power streetlights before the contracts were terminated by the Soludo administration.
Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of the IPMAN, Enugu Depot in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States announced this in Awka, Friday.
Anyaso said the contractors had complied with the directive of the government to return all generators in their custody in the bid to recover their debts when the contracts were terminated.
He said marketers in the state may have to suspend operations without further notice until the State government paid them.
He revealed that the marketers were heavily indebted to their lenders and their businesses were being distressed because of their trapped capital.
Anyaso said IPMAN had written the Anambra government to inform them that they had met the conditions set for them to pay the marketers their money.
According to the letter which was made available to journalists, IPMAN general assembly was eagerly waiting for the response of the Anambra government to their demand.
The letter was titled” Re: Request For Debt Payment Of A900,664,805.00 Owed Our
members For Diesel Supplied And Services Rendered In Respect Of Street Lights”.
“We refer to your response on the above subject dated Nov. 3 on the report of some vendors that are yet to return some of Government owned generator sets allotted to them for the street lights projects.
“Be informed, Sir, that all the generators have been fully returned to the Government.
“We, therefore humbly request that the debt payments owed our members for diesel supplied and services rendered be treated and paid as promised,” it said.
