There was heavy traffic congestion in various parts of Lagos on Monday as motorists queued outside filling stations, indicating a potential resurgence of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) scarcity.
Along the Ikorodu Road axis, long queues of motorists waiting to purchase petrol were observed, leading to unusually heavy gridlock.
Similarly, the Total filling station at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way experienced queues, causing traffic congestion around the Ikeja axis.
Several filling stations along the Ikeja axis, extending through Obafemi Awolowo Road in Ikeja, were also observed to be closed.
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In response to the situation, some motorists began hiking their fares due to the prolonged wait for fuel.
A commercial transport operator plying the Unilag-Jibowu axis in Yaba mentioned that he had to increase fares after spending hours waiting to refuel.
Furthermore, all filling stations along Ogunnusi Road inbound Berger were not selling petrol to customers.
The reason for the resurgence of fuel queues in Lagos was not immediately clear. However, it was noted that the queues were particularly noticeable at major filling stations known for selling at lower rates.
Some filling stations owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway also did not dispense fuel.
The National Vice Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Hammed Fashola, acknowledged the queues in some filling stations in Lagos.
However, he suggested that the queues might be due to panic-buying by customers rather than an actual fuel scarcity.
Fashola promised to investigate the situation further to determine the underlying cause.
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