Filling Stations Shut, As Lagos Impounds Tankers
Marketers of petroleum products have expressed concerns that the alleged harassment of tanker drivers by officials of the Lagos State Government could lead to fuel scarcity in a few days, as some filling stations were shut in various parts of the state on Monday
They also vowed to shut down operations in the South-West if the 30 tankers arrested by the Lagos State Government are not released.
This came as the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers has warned that the imposition of illegal levies on petroleum product trucks by agencies of the Lagos State Government could trigger a nationwide scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly known as cooking gas.
The oil marketers berated the Lagos State Government for allegedly invading the park of the tanker drivers along the Dangote refinery road in the Lekki Free Trade Zone to tow away vehicles.
They said 30 tankers loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit were towed out of the Dangote refinery at about 2 am on Saturday.
According to reports, the tanker drivers have stopped fuel loading over alleged harassment by officials of the Lagos State Government and the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
The truck drivers could not load fuel on Saturday and Sunday, creating fears of scarcity in Lagos and other states. They also did not load on Monday.
On Monday, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, said members of the association were affected by the situation because most of the trucks belong to marketers.
Fashola condemned the government’s action, advising that there should have been a dialogue with stakeholders in the midstream and downstream.
He alleged that the officials of the government stormed the area where the trailers were packed around 2 am last week and made away with many trucks, loaded and unloaded.
He maintained that the inability of the truck drivers to transport fuel for days would result in scarcity unless something is done urgently. He said that though the filling stations are still selling, they will not have anything to sell when their tanks are empty in a few days.
The IPMAN leader maintained that the task force “would have done something more reasonable than going there to tow away all the trucks.”
In a statement by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry of Transport, Lagos State, Bolanle Ogunlola, the government stated that it arrested 11 trucks, alleging that its officials were attacked.
According to the statement, the government said enforcement of the e-call-up system commenced on January 24, 2025, with 10 trucks apprehended but were later released as an act of goodwill by the state government with assurance from the stakeholders to adjust by coming onboard the e-call up system.
