14th September, 2023
By Chimezie Anaso
The Anambra State Government has invited the leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) for a meeting over the claim of over N900 million in debt to contractors who supplied diesel.
Mr Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs, said this in Awka on Thursday while reacting to the association’s letter of appeal.
IPMAN had in the letter begged Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to pay members who were contractors to the Anambra government for the diesel they supplied to power streetlight generators in March and April 2022.
According to IPMAN, the debt was to the tune of N900,664,805.
Nwabunwanne told journalists that the government had taken notice of their complaint and would do everything to protect their businesses.
He however blamed the delay on discrepancies in the claims of the contractors.
The commissioner said his office will meet with the leadership of IPMAN, the umbrella body of the marketers, to reconcile the figures for settlement.
”I have invited the leadership of IPMAN for a meeting early next week for discussion. It is clear that they do not have the correct information on our dealings with the contractors; there are discrepancies.
“So, the meeting will enable us to reconcile these discrepancies and progress to the next step.
“The Gov. Chukwuma Soludo administration is a business-friendly one and will do all that is possible to support and help them stay in business,” he said.
NAN