Long queues at petrol filling stations in Abuja and neighbouring Nasarawa and Niger States are attributed to insufficient supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), according to oil marketers. However, NNPCL refutes this claim, asserting that the queues are a result of a “price war” in the competitive market.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chief Ukadike Chinedu, stated that the inadequate supply of products leads to profiteering among marketers. He cited examples of Port Harcourt, where loading of products has been hindered for three weeks, contributing to queues at stations with available products. Ukadike mentioned promises of vessel discharge at various locations but emphasized the lack of specific information on arrival dates.
Ukadike pointed out that the cost of PMS in most states, excluding Lagos and the South-West, was approximately N650 per litre, with an average price of N640 per litre in Abuja, which he deemed cheap compared to other regions. He urged NNPCL to ensure adequate product supply before the Christmas period.
In response, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, refuted the oil marketers’ claims. He stated that the fuel queues in Abuja were primarily due to a “price war” in the market, where motorists preferred stations with lower prices. While NNPC retail sold at N613 per litre in Abuja, other marketers priced their products between N625 and N650 per litre.
The situation of fuel queues persists in Abuja, with similar scenarios observed at Conoil and Total filling stations across the city and its neighbouring states.
