By Kamsi Anayo and John Ugo, Awka
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has petitioned Anambra State Governor, Prot Charles Soludo, over a whopping N900.7m debt owed about 70 contractors for diesel supplied to the state government.
The amount was for fueling of streetlight generators across the state for one month.
IPMAN stated this on Wednesday in a letter to Soludo signed by Chinedu Anyaso and Emeka Iloafor, chairman and secretary of IPMAN, respectively.
The letter was titled ‘Request For Debt Payment Of N900,664,805.00 Owed Our Members For Diesel Supplied And Services Rendered In Respect Of Street Lights’.
The association said the decision to intervene in the transactions was reached at its annual general meeting in Enugu on August 24.
They stated that the debt was for March and April 2022, being the period they were approved to supply after the exit of the previous administration.
IPMAN however appealed to Soludo to clear the outstanding debts, which had been verified to enable the affected members already going out of business to remain afloat.
It said that the marketers had had their trading capitals trapped with the government and that those who obtained bank loans were in a liquidity crisis because of their inability to pay.
“We, IPMAN covering Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, write to appreciate the good works you are doing in Anambra and commend all your efforts in making the state a livable place.
“Sir, we want to bring to your notice that your department in charge of paying for diesel and services on the Anambra streetlights has refused to offset an outstanding debt owed to our members. The debt is to the tune of N900,664,805 accrued for the months of March and April 2022.”
It added, “Mr Governor, our members are dying because of these debts and the banks are chasing them around to repay the loans given to them to do this business. We attach the breakdown of the debts for your records, sir.”
TonyCollins Nwabunwanne, commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community affairs, whose office oversaw the transaction, said he had yet to see the letter.
Mr Nwabunwanne said he was aware of the contractors’ transactions and plights, assuring that the government would take the necessary action.
“I am not aware that they wrote a letter to the governor. I have not seen it, but I know what they are talking about,” they said.