The Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation Limited (NNPCL) has disclosed that the difference in petrol prices at the various fueling stations is the reason for the long queues by motorists, News About Nigeria reports.
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed this while speaking with Punch, stating that there was a price war across various states of the Federation.
He attributed what he described as the recent tightness in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the price war, which he noted is typical of any competitive market, adding that motorists would rather queue at filling stations that offer lower prices than others.
He stated that while NNPC retail is selling at N613/litre in Abuja, other marketers’ prices range from N625 to N650/litre
The National Public Relations Officer, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, however, stated that the long queues were a result of high vehicular movement and panic buying by consumers.
He maintained that there was enough product to keep the country wet throughout the Yuletide season, adding that the NNPCL imported enough products.
He, however, noted that there was high vehicular movement and some form of panic buying in cities like Abuja, Lagos and other northern cities, due to the high population density there.
He maintained that there is no scarcity of fuel in the country right now.
Ukadike further noted that the long queues were not seen in Port Harcourt and states in the southeast, adding that the price of fuel could even be higher there than in Lagos or northern states.
He therefore urged Nigerians to avoid panic buying, assuring them that the fuel in the country was enough to carry everyone till the end of the year.
