Petrol marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited have given divergent reasons for the long queues at petrol filling stations in Abuja, Nasarawa and Niger States.

The marketers attributed the long queues to an insufficient supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, stressed that the non-availability of petrol has resulted in cases of profiteering among marketers.

“The queues have continued because there is an insufficient supply of products. If we have enough products, it will bring down these acts of profiteering among marketers”, he stated.

However, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, dismissed the claim by oil marketers on the reason for the re-emergence of queues.

According to him, the queues in Abuja can be attributed to a ‘price war’ among marketers.

He explained that motorists would prefer to queue in NNPCL with prices of N613 per litre than other outlets with higher prices.

“That is not true. The recent tightness in Abuja is essentially a price war typical of any competitive market. Motorists would rather queue at filling stations that offer lower prices than others.

“While NNPC retail is selling at N613/litre in Abuja, other marketers’ prices range from N625-N650/litre”.

It was gathered that despite the suspension of the nationwide strike by the National Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress on Wednesday, many filling stations were not dispensing fuel as of Thursday morning.