Fuel scarcity: Lagos threatens to impound vehicles obstructing traffic

The Lagos state government says it would no longer allow vehicles queuing for fuel to obstruct the free flow of traffic across the state.

Lamenting the effect of fuel queues, the government threatened to impound vehicles that cause traffic gridlock, and also sanction filling stations that do not conduct their operations in a smooth manner.

Dayo Mobereola, commissioner for transportation, said this at a press briefing, which led in Alausa, Ikeja on Wednesday.

He said as much as the government had empathised with the people on the difficulties they have been subjected to as a result of shortage of petroleum products, it would not watch and allow the situation cripple the flow of traffic.

Mobereola, who addressed journalists alongside Steve Ayorinde, commissioner for information and strategy, and heads of all the government agencies involved in traffic management in the state, said the resolution of the government was borne out of the need to prevent the fuel shortage from degenerating into a state of anarchy.

“Having empathized with the citizens, we are all aware that it is important to keep certain things in check and this is why we are addressing this press briefing in sync with the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to send a strong signal to those who do not appear to be very mindful of the law particularly in the manner in which they are administering the sale of fuel all over time,” he said.

“In essence, what we are saying is that we will no longer accept indiscriminate queues that result in blocking traffic and easy flow of movement all over the state and that wherever this happen, we would have to deal decisively with any erring filling or petrol stations according to the law.

“Let me make it very clear that we will apprehend the vehicles that are going beyond one lane in queuing up for fuel. We will tow them away, charge them and fine them appropriately.

“The truth is the ease of making traffic easy is the responsibility of everybody starting from the state, the filling stations and the users. The indiscriminate queues have been going on for too long and it must stop because the minority cannot be punishing the majority and that is the problem the state has been facing and this has to stop.

“We have all our enforcement agencies with us; we have spoken to the PPMC and DPR as well and so from tomorrow, we are stating it categorically that all dispensing filling stations must maintain one lane and any vehicle that we see that is forming the second lane or going to the exit to want to go in to the filling station will be apprehended, towed away, fined and we are going to make sure that our mobile courts are working and punishing any erring motorist.”

Chris Olakpe, chief executive officer of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), reminded motorists that the fine for willful obstruction of traffic ranges from N10,000 to N100,000, while owners of impounded vehicles would also pay fines for towing ranging from N10,000 to N100,000, depending on the case.