Oil marketers get N236bn subsidy claims

Oil marketers yesterday confirmed that they had received N236.99billon being the first tranche of outstanding subsidy debts promised to be paid them by the federal government.

The marketers, made up of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMAN) and Independent Petroleum Products Importers (IPPI) had recently threatened to shut down fuel depots due to the outstanding subsidy arrears owed by the government.

The federal government had last week promised to pay them on Friday December 14, N236bn which is the first tranche of the N348bn claims approved by the National Assembly.

Some members of DAPPMAN who spoke to our reporter on phone said they had started getting promissory notes, the mode of payment as promised by the government.

“What the government said they would do for us in terms of payment they have started already. They gave us the promissory note today. You can help us say thank you to the government,” the General Manager of Obat Oil and Petroleum Ltd, Prince Akinfemuwa Akinruntan said.

The Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, Mr Olufemi Adewole, who also confirmed the payment, however told Daily Trust that the approval government gave to them was N429 billion but N236.99 billion was paid.

“Some of them collected the promissory note earlier today. We are examining the content of the promissory note and we are asking, where is the balance that government approved? We will meet on Monday and review the situation and let the public know,” he said.