The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA has assured transporters that payment for petrol bridging costs will not cease, despite the nonexistent Petroleum Equalization Fund that hitherto handled it.

Chief Executive of the agency Farouk Ahmed gave the assurance in Abuja when delegates from the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO paid a courtesy call on the management of the Authority. He added that the agency would continue to process claims for bridging of petrol to ensure product availability nationwide.

Ahmed explained that the Regulatory body is aware of the fact that the signing of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA, 2021), leading to the creation of the NMDPRA, may have raised some uncertainty on the continuation of the bridging scheme; whether or not bridging funds will continue to be paid to beneficiaries. He stressed that NARTO, as well as other stakeholders, should not panic because all verified bridging obligations would be honoured and paid by the Authority.

NARTO National President Yusuf Lawal Othman had earlier informed the agency of the outstanding payments being owed its members by the Federal Government. He expressed worry over the fact that some members were losing interest in the business of transporting petrol.