There were long queues in many filling stations across Lagos State though the National Association of Road Transport Owners has called off its strike.
The queues, The PUNCH gathered, started building up in some parts of Lagos on Tuesday.
The queue was borne out of fear by Nigerians that premium motor spirit might become scarce as a result of the now-suspended NARTO strike.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Nigerians stormed filling stations to engage in panic buying.
It was learnt that the refusal of the tanker drivers to lift fuel on Monday and Tuesday also had affected filling stations owned by independent marketers, many of whom had run out of supply.
In major areas in Lagos, the queues continued to build up, causing traffic gridlock on major roads.
Our correspondents observed that the filling stations along the Alausa axis of Lagos, including, Mobil, Total, Conoil and others had long queues.
Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stations in Ogunnusi, Ojodu-Berger and Ikorodu Road had long queues, including Bovas.
Around the Isolo axis, the filling station at Apata Round-about was not selling fuel; it was the same scenario at the Total Filling station located close to Isolo General Hospital.
At Ishaga, an attendant at NPOG filling station told our correspondent that they had run out of fuel in the past three days.
The PUNCH also observed that the NNPC and Mobil filling stations at the College Bus stop were also out of fuel.
The Quest fuel station along Asuani Road was the only filling station that dispensed fuel on Wednesday, with a long queue of cars and customers struggling to buy at N640 per litre.
Along Gbagada Road, the NorthWest had a long queue of cars and was selling at N610 per litre, while Eternal at Gbagada Bustop was not selling at the time of filing this report.
When our correspondent visited a fuel station belonging to NNPCL in the Ikotun area of Lagos State, it was observed it was not selling fuel.
On Wednesday, a long queue was noticed at God’s Decision, along Governor Road, Ikotun.
“We learnt that there may be a fuel scarcity soon. They said tankers drivers are going on strike,” one of the customers at God’s Decision told The PUNCH.
In an interview with our correspondent, the Vice National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers, Hammed Fashola, said the queue was caused by the two-day strike embarked upon by the tanker drivers.
“The fuel queues were caused by the two-day stoppage of operations by the tanker drivers. By Monday, everything will clear off. The NARTO members called off their strike yesterday (Tuesday) and they resumed loading of fuel today (Wednesday). All the depots are working now,” Fashola said in a phone interview.
Meanwhile, Lagosians have lamented over the fuel scarcity that struck many neighbourhoods in the state.
On X (formerly Twitter), @EricaNlewedim on Wednesday described the development as bad news that was becoming too much.
“The bad news is just too much. What is it? Ahah! And now fuel scarcity, I’m really tired of being an adult in this generation,” the user wrote.
Punch
