Wale Jagun
The Lagos State Government has directed all petrol stations on the state’s highways to operate between 9.00am and 4.00pm each day.
According to the government, the directive was to check massive gridlock occasioned by the activities of the stations on the highways.
In a statement on Thursday by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, said fuel stations on the highways that failed to comply with the directive would be sanctioned.
“In view of the lingering fuel scarcity across the country, which has continued to affect the free flow of traffic in Lagos, the State Government has initiated moves to regulate the activities of Major and Independent Petroleum Marketers operating along major roads and traffic-prone areas within the State”, he said.
““The move becomes imperative in order to check indiscriminate activities of motorists queuing up to buy petroleum products who oftentimes, park carelessly on the roads and bridges, therefore impeding free flow of traffic.
Oladeinde explained that Petroleum Marketers whose filling stations are situated on major highways and areas susceptible to traffic will henceforth be allowed to operate only between the hours of 9 am to 4 pm daily, pending when the fuel shortage crisis subsides.
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 a seamless flow of traffic across the State.
The Commissioner, therefore, implored all major and Independent Petroleum Marketers operating across the State to comply with the directive to avoid sanctions.
