Bridging Claims: NMDPRA Disburses N103bn In Nine Months 

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said it disbursed N103.037 billion as bridging claims to oil marketers in nine months, between December 2021 and August 2022.
NMDPRA also said it met with officials of the Northern Independent Petroleum Marketers Forum (NIPMF) in a bid to address the issues of outstanding bridging claims owed the oil marketers.
Bridging claims is one of the cost elements factored into the petroleum products pricing template, to ensure uniformity of prices across the country. It usually caters for the cost of transporting the products from one location to another.
In a statement in Abuja, the NMDPRA disclosed that it will continue to carry out its mandate as stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which includes to promote and ensure the continuous and efficient operations of the Midstream & Downstream sector in Nigeria.
To this end, it stated that together with the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, it met with the leadership of the NIPMF to address issues bordering on financial obligations and payments to the marketers and also averted an impending strike action by the marketers.
Noting that the meeting with the marketers addressed issues regarding bridging claims and other matters, NMDPRA allayed concerns of the marketers regarding non-payment of the claims, stating that payment of bridging claims is an ongoing process, while payments are also disbursed as it is received from marketers.
The midstream and downstream regulator said, “iIt should be noted that The Authority has disbursed a total of N103.037 billion between December 2021 to August 2022.
“Following the extensive deliberations between the parties, The Authority further commits to fast-tracking the settlement of all outstanding claims when received from marketers after due verification and reconciliation.
NIPMF has agreed to work with the NMDPRA to ensure free flow of petroleum products nationwide.
On Monday, oil marketers, under the aegis of NIPMF, had embarked on a three-day warning strike over unpaid bridging claims running into billions of naira.
Chairman of the group, Musa Maikifi, had stated that its members will withdraw their services of lifting and distribution of petroleum products from the nine depots under its jurisdiction to states across the Northern region.
Maikifi said the warning strike became imperative to further press home its demand for the Federal Government to settle its claims.
He said the claims have continued to accumulate as the government was yet to pay any of the marketers since January till date.