Kunle Adelabu
Following the restriction placed on the operating hours of the fuel stations along major highways few days ago to ease traffic congestion in the state, the Lagos State Government has, again, announced that it is no longer restricting them.
The government had, during the week, restricted the operation of the major fuel stations on the highways between 9am to 4pm.
In another statement on Friday, signed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederick Oladeinde, said that the government had noticed reaction and it is withdrawing the decision to restrict the operation of major petrol stations.
The government reinstate that the restriction was not to add to the hardship being experienced by the people, due to fuel scarcity.
“The Lagos State Government has noticed the reactions generated by its directive to major and independent petroleum marketers operating on major roads. The measure is to stop the traffic congestion that has resulted from their activities; it is not to compound the hardship motorists and commuters have experienced because of the lingering fuel shortage”, the Commissioner stated.
“Following assurances from some of the offending filling stations, the 9 am to 4 pm restriction will no longer be enforced.
The Commissioner, however, said that operators of fuel stations on the highway have the duty to ensure that their activities do not impede the free flow of traffic.
He said that traffic agencies have been directed to enforce the law at any time there is a breach.
“For the avoidance of doubt, filling stations are not restricted from doing their business, but fuel marketers have a responsibility to ensure that their activities do not cause any disruption whatsoever to traffic flow. It is against the law to impede the free flow of traffic on our roads”, he said.
“Traffic Management Agencies have been directed to invoke the law should any marketer be found to have allowed queues on its premises to spill onto major roads in a disorderly manner that impedes traffic flow”.
