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Fuel Scarcity Looms As Queues Resurface In Lagos
Numerous filling stations in Lagos State experienced long queues on Friday, raising concerns about a potential fuel scarcity.
Journalists who conducted a city-wide investigation discovered that the queues at some filling stations disrupted the smooth flow of traffic.
According to The PUNCH, it was observed in the morning that commuters faced heavy traffic at the AP filling station in Alapere as vehicle owners and individuals struggled to purchase fuel.
Eventually, the station ceased fuel dispensation later in the day. Similarly, the Conoil filling station in the same area witnessed a lengthy queue, while TotalEnergies did not appear to be dispensing fuel. Many stations were observed to be unable to dispense fuel, which increased pressure on the few stations that had the product available.
As of noon, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) station at Fadeyi had not sold any petrol. Reporters also noted that NIPCO had a significant queue of vehicles waiting to obtain Premium Motor Spirit.
Furthermore, there was a significant line of vehicles waiting at the AP fuel station in Onipanu. However, the Mobil filling stations located in Palmgrove, Alausa, and Mile 2 did not commence the sale of PMS on Friday, Nation Post learnt.
Similarly, the NNPC, Mobil, TAS, NIPCO, Enyo, As-Salam, and other filling stations along the Mowe-Ibafo route in Ogun State also refrained from selling petrol. In addition, both Capital and Enyo at Berger were not open for PMS sales at the time of compiling this report. Upon arrival at the Enyo filling station at Ojodu junction, our correspondent observed long queues on Friday.
This same situation was witnessed at the Eterna filling station along Oworonshoki, Northwest along Oju-Elegba, TotalEnergies, and MRS at Surulere. Consequently, the scarcity of petrol had a direct impact on the number of commercial vehicles operating on the roads on Friday. At Mile 2, a group of young men resorted to engaging in black market sales, offering the product at N800 per litre.
Several commercial bike riders, who were interviewed by our correspondent, revealed that they had been purchasing from these black market sellers since Wednesday.
It was reported earlier that a number of filling stations did not sell fuel on Monday.
As stated by Hammed Fashola, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, the product’s distribution encountered a minor setback.
However, he remains hopeful that the situation will be resolved and operations will return to normalcy following the conclusion of the Easter break.
Fashola said: “Yes, I think there was a little infraction in supply. The Easter holiday from Friday to Monday also added to the situation. I think from Wednesday it will ease off.
“The holiday was almost four days off. It will have its effect. But I am sure by Wednesday it will start getting better. Though there was little problem with supply even before the holiday. There was a little hiccup in supply, the holiday added to it. I am sure I will start getting better after the holiday.”
Reports who toured the state noted that the situation seemed to be getting worse four days after the Easter break.
