Fuel crisis: LASTMA warns motorists against road obstruction

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has cautioned motorists queuing up for fuel at different filling stations not to obstruct traffic.

It warned them not to cause congestion that could hinder other road users around filling stations.

The General Manager, LASTMA, Mr Bolaji Oreagba, said these in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos through the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Mr Taofiq Adebayo.

He said that he had deployed more officers on traffic monitoring around filling stations and other areas across the state.

Oreagba said that the deployment became imperative following reports of long queues around filling stations caused by motorists parking indiscriminately.

He said that such motorists were blocking roads while queuing up to buy fuel.

The LASTMA boss expressed displeasure at the disorderly behaviour of such drivers who queue up haphazardly around filling stations.

He urged petrol attendants and marketers to ensure that products were sold in an orderly manner.

Oreagba said this was necessary so as not to infringe on the right of way of other road users.

“Buying fuel is not an excuse to block and impede traffic flow across the state.

*In as much as we want our roads to be free, we do not want fuel queues to constitute a burden for other road users across the state.

“Efficient traffic management has remained crucial in the attainment of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s seamless multi-modal transportation system in Lagos.

“We are equally advising motorists including members of the public against unsafe fuel storage inside vehicles, homes, markets and workplaces.

“Landlords and tenants should shun inappropriate storage of fuel at homes and public places.

“Filling Stations must equally avoid dispensing fuel in polythene bags to avoid scuffles that can spark off fire incidents,” Oreagba said.