Lagos witnessed severe traffic congestion on Monday as motorists flocked to filling stations, forming long queues outside the forecourts amidst growing concerns of an imminent scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
It was gathered that, there was significant traffic gridlock along the Ikorodu Road axis, where motorists endured long queues at filling stations, waiting to purchase petrol.
The Total Filling station at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way also experienced heavy queues, leading to congestion around the Ikeja axis.
Numerous filling stations along the Ikeja axis, particularly along Obafemi Awolowo Road, were observed to be closed.
The situation prompted some motorists to hike their fares, reflecting the challenges faced by commercial transport operators.
A driver plying the Unilag-Jibowu axis in Yaba confirmed the fare increase, telling Punch, “Do you know how long it took me to buy fuel today? Anybody who doesn’t want to enter should stay out.”
Additionally, all the filling stations along Ogunnusi Road inbound Berger reportedly did not dispense petrol to customers.
The cause of the sudden resurgence of fuel queues in Lagos remains unclear. However, reports suggest that the queues were prominent in major filling stations known for selling at lower rates.
Filling stations owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were also reported not to be dispensing fuel.
National Vice Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, acknowledged the queues in some filling stations in Lagos. However, he suggested that the queues might be a result of panic-buying among customers.
“I am not in Lagos as we speak. But I heard about it too that there are queues in Lagos. It may just be panic buying. I am not sure there is fuel scarcity. People are just panicking. However, I will find out what the problem is,” he said.