The Lagos State Government (LASG) has ordered owners of all fuel stations located on major roads in the state to restrict their operations between 9am and 4pm from Mondays to Fridays.
The order which takes immediate effect is to drastically reduce man-hour losses suffered by road users since late last year following lingering and sickening fuel scarcity. The scarcity resulted in very long vehicular queues in every filling station that sells petrol (premium motor spirit), which in turn cause grave obstruction of thoroughfare.
The situation makes workers go late to offices and even business people miss appointments and flights. Most people leave their vehicles overnight to be among the firsts to get petrol early as the fuel stations resume sales as early as 7am in the morning.
The Lagos State Government stated that any fuel station owner that fails to comply with the directive would be heavily sanctioned.
Announcing the directive yesterday, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, said all retail outlets owners on major roads within the metropolis of Lagos, whether such fuel station is owned by major or independent oil marketer, must comply with the directive.
He noted that the directive is to help reduce the impact of the activities fuel stations on the traffic situation, which continues to worsen as the scarcity of the commodity lingers.
Lagos Commissioner of Transportation Dr Frederic Oladeinde directed all independent and major oil marketers with retail outlets on major roads within the metropolis of Lagos to comply with the directive.
Oladeinde said the 9am to 4pm order would be sustained until the fuel supply situation improves and the long queues disappear.
He added that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Transport Operations Compliance Unit (TOCU) and other Law Enforcement Agencies have been charged to ensure seamless flow of traffic across the State.
