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| indiscriminate queuing on the road |
The Lagos State Government said it would no
longer allow indiscriminate parking of vehicles on the road networks across the
state on the basis of queuing up for Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as
fuel, just as it threatened to sanction any erring filling stations and
motorists who flout the directive.
Rising from the weekly State Executive Council Meeting, the
government said it can no longer tolerate the attendant traffic gridlock
associated with the indiscriminate parking of vehicles on the road, adding that
the enforcement on the directive would commence immediately from today.
While addressing a joint press briefing at the Bagauda
Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo
Mobereola, said as much as the government empathized with the people on the
difficulties they have been subjected to as a result of shortage of petroleum
products, it would however not watch and allow the situation cripple the flow
of traffic in the state.
Mobereola, who addressed journalists alongside the
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and heads of all
the government agencies involved in traffic management in the state, said the
resolution of the State Government was borne out of the need to prevent the
fuel shortage from degenerating into a state of anarchy.
He said: “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''.
“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”.
Giving further details, Mobereola clarified that the action
of the State Government became imperative owing to the fact that the state had
been almost at a standstill as a result of fuel dispensation, saying it was the
responsibility of dispensing filling stations to ensure that same was managed
appropriately.
On the vehicles forming more than one lane, the Commissioner
said: “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
has 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,” Mobereola said.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State
Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Chris Olakpe 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 as the case may be.
BY: OWOYEMI TAIWO
