Fuel queue
Motorists formed long queues outside the forecourts of filling stations in Lagos stateon Tuesday, February 20,due to a reported fuel shortage attributed to the directive fromthe National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO)for petroleum tankers to cease their services.
A survey showedthatonly a few filling stations opened for business at Apapa inward Oshodi, Agege to Oshodi, Mushin to Idioro, Oshodi inward Berger, etc, while others had no activities.
Motorists also endured an unusually heavy gridlock due to a long queue of motorists waiting to buy petrol at filling stations at Akowonjo, Alimoso, Ikeja, Ilupeju axis, and Ikorodu.
Only M.O.J filling station at Bolade, Oshodi was attending to motorists at the time of filing this report.
Residents of Agege decided to take their destiny into their own hands as motorist hiked their fares from N300, N400 to N600-N700, forcing many to resort to walking down to Oshodi.
NARTO in a letter dated February 15, 2024, notified the Federal Government and Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria of its plan to suspend operations citing unsustainable high costs given the current state of the nations economy.
Members will park their trucks starting on Monday, February 19, the NARTO President, Yusuf Othman, said, arguing that the costs incurred by members for their activities exceeded their returns.
He said all attempts by the body to enlist the intervention of all significant stakeholders in the federal government had not been successful.
A commercial transport driver plying Oshodi to Agege, who pleaded anonymity, said he was forced to hike his fees after waiting for hours to buy fuel.
I had to queue to get the fuel Im using. A lot of fuel stations are closed. Anybody who doesnt want to enter should stay away. You can expect me to sleep at the filling station and expect me to carry you for N300, he said.
It was observed that the NNPC petrol station at Akowonjo, Alimoso, Lagos sold PMS for N580 per litre while Mobile along Mushin-Oshodi road at N599.
Technoil at Isolo Bus Stop was utterly deserted, void of activities. On probing about the state of things, our Correspondent was told that they had no product because there was no tanker to convey it down to the filing station as a result of the strike.
According to an attendant who chose anonymity, Before the strike, we sold petrol for N610. But I cant say how much it will be when the new product eventually arrives.
A tricycle driver, Mr Kunle Ade confirmed that he was able to get petrol at MRS filling station, Okeafa for N690 per litre.(The Nation)
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