The Association of Nigerian Refineries Petroleum Marketers (ANRPM) has raised the alarm over the Federal Government’s plan to enforce a five per cent user charge on fuel pump prices through the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), warning of severe operational and economic consequences for marketers and consumers.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the association expressed conditional support for the proposed levy, stating that while improving Nigeria’s road infrastructure was necessary, the charge must be implemented with caution and tied to visible and immediate road rehabilitation.

The association’s national Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Usman Bature Ali; the National BOT Secretary, Hajiya Hauwa Usman Ndukwe; the Director General of ANRPM, Sam Obu; the Director General, Oil and Gas, Dr Chidi Elogha Okoye; and the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr Olusegun Okedoye, among others, at the event, said while they were not opposed to the five per cent user charge in principle, the implementation must directly address the deplorable state of major road networks, especially those critical for petroleum transportation.”

The group specifically identified key highways, such as the Benin–Lokoja–Abuja Expressway, and the Benin–Ore–Lagos Road as urgent priorities for intervention, citing frequent tanker accidents, product losses, delays and inflated operational costs due to poor road conditions.

ANRPM urged the government to consider alternative modes of transporting petroleum products, including rail systems, which they said would reduce pressure on roads, improve safety and enhance supply chain efficiency.

The association acknowledged the past failures of the subsidy system, which it described as riddled with corruption, inefficiency, and massive fiscal leakages.

They warned that the removal of the subsidy must be matched with robust regulatory frameworks to avoid a resurgence of malpractice in the downstream sector.

The association called for digital tracking systems, transparent procurement procedures, and effective enforcement to improve accountability and reduce losses.

The advocated a presidential amnesty for artisanal refiners and pipeline vandals in the Niger Delta just like the Presidential Amnesty Programme for ex-militants.

They asked for the creation of a presidential committee to handle the rehabilitation, data collation and economic reintegration of these individuals.

ANRPM also urged the government to issue licences for mini-modular refineries operated by indigenes in the Niger Delta as part of a broader strategy to curb illegal refining and promote local content.