Fuel Scarcity: Lagos bans indiscriminate queues at petrol stations

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it would no longer allow indiscriminate parking of vehicles on the road networks across the state on the basis of queuing up for Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as  fuel, just as it threatened to sanction any erring filling stations and motorists who flout the directive.
The government said it can no longer tolerate the attendant traffic gridlock associated with the indiscriminate parking of vehicles on the road, adding that the enforcement on the directive would commence immediately from today (Thursday). While addressing a joint press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said as much as the government empathized with the people on the difficulties they have been subjected to as a result of shortage of petroleum products, it would however not watch and allow the situation cripple the flow of traffic in the state. 

Mobereola, who addressed journalists alongside the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and heads of all the government agencies involved in traffic management in the state, said the resolution of the State Government was borne out of the need to prevent the fuel shortage from degenerating into a state of anarchy. 

He said: “Having empathized with the citizens, we are all aware that it is important to keep certain things in check and this is why we are addressing this press briefing in sync with the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to send a strong signal to those who do not appear to be very mindful of the law particularly in the manner in which they are administering the sale of fuel all over time. “In essence, what we are saying is that we will no longer accept indiscriminate queues that result in blocking traffic and easy flow of movement all over the state and that wherever this happen, we would have to deal decisively with any erring filling or petrol stations according to the law”.